The phylum Echinodermata comprises five classes (sea stars, brittle stars, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and sea lilies), which represents a widespread abundant group of marine benthic invertebrates that play an
important role in Southern Ocean ecosystems. The Antarctic echinoderm diversity is estimated at approx. 550 species, and the group is notable for a particularly high proportion of endemic species. Due to their skeletons being composed of calcium carbonate in the form of thermodynamically metastable high-Mg calcite, echinoderms are considered among the taxa most vulnerable to ongoing changes in seawater carbonate saturation state.
This project focuses on the identification of echinoderm species -primarily sea stars and brittle stars – collected at different depths in the Penola and Meek Straits along the western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. Following identification, skeletal parts will be dissected and cleaned of organic material to enable subsequent chemical analyses. The final objective of the study is to determine the chemical composition of the carbonate skeleton of specimens collected across the depth gradient. However, previous studies have shown that skeletal chemical composition may be species-specific; therefore, accurate taxonomic identification of the studied echinoderms is a critical component of this study.
Species identification, preparation of skeletons, laboratory work in trace metal purity conditions, participating in scientific discussion
Experience in species identification, acquiring knowledge about echinoderm morphology and anatomy, experience in biocarbonate samples preparation for trace metal analyses, critical thinking, reading scientific literature
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
