TY - JOUR

T1 - South Sandwich Islands – An understudied isolated Southern Ocean archipelago

AU - Collins, M. A.

AU - Hart, T.

AU - Hogg, O. T.

AU - Hollyman, P. R.

AU - Liszka, C. M.

AU - Stewart, H. A.

AU - Trathan, P. N.

PY - 2022/7/1

Y1 - 2022/7/1

N2 - The South Sandwich Islands are an isolated, oceanic, volcanically formed archipelago in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. The complex bathymetry, coupled with the location in the marginal sea-ice zone and the relationship with the ACC makes the region both productive and biodiverse. Although remote, the region is not pristine and has been subject to historic exploitation of cetaceans and currently supports small, sustainably managed fisheries for two species of toothfish. This special issue brings together a suite of papers that further our knowledge of the region and will contribute to the next review of the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Area, which is due in 2023. The ten papers cover a broad range of subjects, adding to our knowledge of oceanography, pelagic and benthic ecology and of habitat use by mobile vertebrate predators such as cetaceans and penguins. Whilst the papers address some important knowledge gaps, they also highlight how little is known about this region and provide pointers to future research priorities.

AB - The South Sandwich Islands are an isolated, oceanic, volcanically formed archipelago in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. The complex bathymetry, coupled with the location in the marginal sea-ice zone and the relationship with the ACC makes the region both productive and biodiverse. Although remote, the region is not pristine and has been subject to historic exploitation of cetaceans and currently supports small, sustainably managed fisheries for two species of toothfish. This special issue brings together a suite of papers that further our knowledge of the region and will contribute to the next review of the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Area, which is due in 2023. The ten papers cover a broad range of subjects, adding to our knowledge of oceanography, pelagic and benthic ecology and of habitat use by mobile vertebrate predators such as cetaceans and penguins. Whilst the papers address some important knowledge gaps, they also highlight how little is known about this region and provide pointers to future research priorities.

U2 - 10.1016/j.dsr2.2022.105121

DO - 10.1016/j.dsr2.2022.105121

M3 - Article

VL - 201

JO - Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography

JF - Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography

SN - 0967-0645

M1 - 105121

ER -