This study evaluates the utility of stakeholder analysis for understanding the relationships among actors involved in creating a marine protected area (MPA) in the Southern Ocean. It relies on the Australian Centre of Excellence on Risk Analysis (ACERA) method of critical stakeholder analysis, a concise, step-by-step model to identify stakeholders, assess their perceptions and values, and reveal power relations. The study uses the first two steps of the ACERA method to analyze stakeholders—in this case individuals speaking on behalf of organizations—within the Australian delegation of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) concerning the establishment of an MPA in the Southern Ocean. The study reveals both benefits and weaknesses in the ACERA method. It also portrays conflicting views among these stakeholders, and that the process of identifying and analyzing stakeholder interests is highly complex and dynamic. / Master of Science

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Yes / Marine plastic pollution has a range of negative impacts for biota and the colonization of plastics in the marine environment by microorganisms may have significant ecological impacts. However, data on epiplastic organisms, particularly fungi, is still lacking for many ocean regions. To evaluate plastic associated fungi and their geographic distribution, we characterised plastics sampled from surface waters of the western South Atlantic (WSA) and Antarctic Peninsula (AP), using DNA metabarcoding of three molecular markers (ITS2, 18S rRNA V4 and V9 regions). Numerous taxa from eight fungal phyla and a total of 64 orders were detected, including groups that had not yet been described associated with plastics. There was a varied phylogenetic assemblage of predominantly known saprotrophic taxa within the Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. We found a range of marine cosmopolitan genera present on plastics in both locations, i.e., Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Wallemia and a number of taxa unique to each region, as well as a high variation of taxa such as Chytridiomycota and Aphelidomycota between locations. Within these basal fungal groups we identified a number of phylogenetically novel taxa. This is the first description of fungi from the Plastisphere within the Southern Hemisphere, and highlights the need to further investigate the potential impacts of plastic associated fungi on other organisms and marine ecosystems. / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico. Grant Numbers: 407889/2013‐2, PQ 310597/2018‐8, PQ 312470/2018‐5, SWE 206250/2017‐7. Programa de Excelênca Acadêmica – PROEX. University of Salford Career Development Fellowship. Chevron Brasil Upstrem Frade Ltda. Brazilian Interministerial Commission for the Resources of the Sea (CIRM).

Algal mats comprised primarily of Phormidium frigidum Fritsch, Lyngbya martensiana Menegh., and several species of pennate diatoms are found in the below-ice benthic regions of Lakes Bonney, Chad, Hoare, Fryxell, and Vanda, southern Victoria Land, Antarctica. Mats are also found in the littoral moats and ice-covers of several lakes, and in cryoconite holes on Canada Glacier. Variations in temperature, light, oxygen, salinity, and nutrient levels between lakes and different habitats in the same lake result in differences in species composition, morphology, biomass, and photosynthetic pigment content of the mats. Algal mats are trapping and binding sediment, and precipitating minerals, particularly calcite. Mats are removing organic and inorganic matter from the arheic lakes via transfer through the icecovers or by incorporation into the sediments. Some of the algal mats are laminated, organosedimentary structures and can be considered stromatolitic. Depending upon ambient and subsequent environmental conditions non-columnar, columnar, and pinnacle-shaped stromatolites are forming, some of which are partially lithified. If environmental variables (i.e. low light intensity, lack of burrowers or browsers, and relative lack of turbulence) associated with these stromatolites do not vary significantly, it is probable that they may result in a lacustrine carbonate sedimentary deposit. / Ph. D.