ALBERT

Description: A taxonomic revision of the genus Scleria (Cyperoideae, Cyperaceae) in Madagascar is presented. Herbarium specimens have been examined and 422 identified to species level. Our results recognise 25 species of Scleria from Madagascar, plus an additional heterotypic variety. Eight species are endemic to Madagascar, two are near endemic, eight taxa are also found on mainland Africa, and eight are widespread tropical taxa. Scleria achtenii is reported from Madagascar for the first time, and S. rosea is accepted at species level instead of being considered as a synonym of S. trialata. Distribution maps, conservation assessments, and notes on synonymy, ecology and ethnobotany are provided. Fourty-seven names are typified. Three rare endemic species: S. andringitrensis, S. madagascariensis and S. perpusilla, are assessed as threatened; and a recently described species, S. ankaratrensis, is indicated as Data Deficient. The most species-rich infrageneric taxa, sections Hypoporum, Abortivae and Foveolidia include 18 taxa in total, and showed strong differences in habitat preference.

Description: Scanning Doppler wind lidar scans and atmospheric measurements at the offshore wind farm "Global Tech I" in the German North Sea. Wakes of neighbouring wind farm clusters are present in the data.

Description: A total of four moorings ("1893", "Taymyr", "Kotelny", "Vilkitsky") was deployed in September 2013 during the Transdrift XXI - expedition and recovered in September 2014 during Transdrift XXII aboard the Viktor Buinitsky. The expeditions were carried out in the framework of the German-Russian "Laptev Sea Systems" partnership, and within the BMBF-funded "Transdrift"-project. The moorings were designed to collect information on the general shelf circulation, to study ice-ocean-atmosphere processes, and to understand the role of the Lena River on the oceanography of the Laptev Sea.

Description: This dataset comprises the Chatvd19 age model and the microfacies analysis results of the Chatyr Kol Lake sedimentary composite profile. The composite profile relies on parallel piston cores, which were retrieved in 2012 with an UWITEC piston corer from the deepest part of the lake (~20m) (Kalanke et al., 2019). Analysis have been performed at the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam, Germany. The dataset "Age model and replicate varve counts of composite profile CHAT12 from Chatyr Kol Lake, Kyrgyzstan" contains the Age model with the composite depth, interpolated based varve thicknesses (column B), the age model and varve counting uncertainty estimates. The age model is based on the results of replicate varve counts, which were performed on overlapping large-scale petrographic thin sections along the whole composite profile from 63.0 to 623.5 cm depth. Thin section preparation followed the method described by Brauer and Casanova (2001) and included freeze-drying and vacuum impregnation of the sediment slabs with Araldite epoxy resin. Microfacies analysis was carried out on a Zeiss Axioplan microscope using different magnifications (25-400 x). The dataset "Microfacies analysis of thin sections including distribution of microfacies (varve) types and thicknesses, varve characteristics and semi-quantitative species abundances of composite profile CHAT12 from Chatyr Kol Lake, Kyrgyzstan" displays the results of the microfacies analysis, including the varve thicknesses, the distribution of observed microfacies (varve) types and thicknesses, the varve quality index and its distribution and the semi-quantitative analysis of species abundances. Species abundances were classified according to their low (=1), middle (=2) and high (=3) abundances. The dataset "Varve thickness measurements of discontinuous varves between 63.0 and 41.9 cm composite depth of composite profile CHAT12 from Chatyr Kol Lake, Kyrgyzstan" displays varve thickness measurements of discontinuous varves between 63.0 and 41.0 cm composite depth, which were i.a. used for interpolation of the upper homogenous sediments (0-63.0 cm depth).

Description: Here we provide four ArcGIS map packages with georeferenced files on the spatial distribution of demersal and pelagic fishes in the wider Weddell Sea (Antarctica), which were created in the context of the development of a marine protected area (MPA) in the Weddell Sea. Antarctic toothfish: The map of Dissostichus mawsoni occurrence probability is based on catch per unit effort (CPUE) data from the database of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) (data request: 03-08-2016) and on bathymetric data from the International Bathymetric Chart of the Southern Ocean (IBCSO). We fitted a four-parameter Weibull model to the simulated CPUE data per depth interval by means of the R package 'fitdistrplus'. The highest D. mawsoni occurrence probability was shown at depths between 1500 and 2000 m and only approximately 20 % of the Antarctic toothfish population occurred deeper than 2000 m. Antarctic silverfish: The map of interpolated abundances of Pleuragramma antarctica was based on pelagic trawl survey data, which were collected during "Polarstern" cruises ANT-I/2, ANT-III/3 and in the context of the Lazarev Sea Krill Survey (LAKRIS) ("Polarstern" cruises ANT-XXI/4, ANT-XXIII/6, ANT-XXIV/2). The first mentioned data were provided by V. Siegel (retired; formerly Thünen Institute), the LAKRIS data by H. Flores (AWI). Those data were complemented by benthic trawl survey data, which were collected during seven "Polarstern" cruises between 1996 and 2011 (ANT-XIII/3, ANT-XV/3, ANT-XVII/3, ANT-XIX/5, ANT-XXI/2, ANT-XXIII/8, ANT-XXVII/3) and were provided by R. Knust (AWI) as well as by data on counts of fish species from trawl and dredge samples by Drescher et. (2012), Ekau et al. (2012a, b), Hureau et al. (2012), Kock et al. (2012) and Wöhrmann et al. (2012). An inverse distance weighted interpolation was performed for a 10 nautical mile radius around each record. Areas with highest numbers of P. antarctica (〉 36 individuals/1000 m²) occurred offshore Riiser -Larsen Ice Shelf and on the southern Weddell Sea continental shelf offshore Filchner Ice Shelf. Demersal fish: The map of predicted habitat suitability for demersal fish is based on data, which were collected during seven "Polarstern" cruises between 1996 and 2011 (ANT-XIII/3, ANT-XV/3, ANT-XVII/3, ANT-XIX/5, ANT-XXI/2, ANT-XXIII/8, ANT-XXVII/3) and were provided by R. Knust (AWI). The habitat suitability model was developed by the use of the modelling package "biomod2". Most suitable habitat conditions for demersal fish in the wider Weddell Sea occurred on the continental shelf between approx. 5° and 30°W, on the shelf west and east of the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula as well as around the South Shetland and South Orkney Islands. Nesting sites of demersal fish: The map on observation of nesting sites of demersal fish is based on data, which were collected during "Polarstern" cruises ANT-XXVII/3, ANT-XXIX/9 and ANT-XXXI/2 and were obtained by T. Lundälv (retired; formerly University of Gothenburg), D. Gerdes (retired; formerly AWI) and E. Riginella (University of Padova), respectively. Those data were complemented by a literature research. Most nesting sites were observed west of 25°W, north of the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula and along the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. More information is given in the working paper WG-EMM-16/03 submitted to the CCAMLR Working Group on Ecosystem Monitoring and Management CCAMLR (available at https://www.ccamlr.org/en/wg-emm-16). Revised versions of the spatial analysis are described in working paper WG-SAM-17/30 and WS-SM-18/13 submitted to the CCAMLR Working Group on Statistics, Assessments and Modelling and the CCAMLR Workshop on Spatial Management, respectively (available at https://www.ccamlr.org/en/wg-sam-17; https://www.ccamlr.org/en/ws-sm-18).

Description: Here we provide two ArcGIS map packages with georeferenced files on the spatial distribution of sponges and echinoderms in the wider Weddell Sea (Antarctica), which were created in the context of the development of a marine protected area (MPA) in the Weddell Sea. Sponges: The map of interpolated occurrence of sponges is based on quantitative abundance data (Gerdes 2014 a - o) and on semi-quantitative data obtained by W. Arntz (retired; formerly AWI) (see Teschke & Brey 2019a for presence / absence records of the latter dataset). The abundance data were classified to be merged with the semi-quantitative data and an inverse distance weighted method was performed on the united dataset. Areas with very common occurrence of sponges occurred on the shelf near Brunt Ice Shelf along Riiser - Larsen Ice Shelf to Ekstrøm Ice Shelf. Echinoderms: A cluster analysis with species x station datasets of asteroids (Teschke & Brey 2019b), ophiuroids (Teschke & Brey 2019c) and holothurians (Gutt et al. 2014) from the Antarctic Weddell Sea indicated a particular cold-water echinoderm fauna on the Filchner shelf. We approximated this potential habitat by bottom temperature ≤ -1°, based on seawater temperature data from the Finite Element Sea Ice - Ocean Model provided by R. Timmermann (AWI). More information on the spatial analysis is given in working paper WG-EMM-16/03 submitted to the CCAMLR Working Group on Ecosystem Monitoring and Management (available at https://www.ccamlr.org/en/wg-emm-16).

Description: This article presents a new comprehensive assessment of the Holocene hydrological variability of Lake Ladoga, northwest Russia. The reconstruction is based on oxygen isotopes of lacustrine diatom silica (δ18O diatom) preserved in sediment core Co 1309, and is complemented by a diatom assemblage analysis and a survey of modern isotope hydrology. The data indicate that Lake Ladoga has existed as a freshwater reservoir since at least 10.8 cal. ka BP. The δ18O diatom values range from +29.8 to +35.0‰, and relatively higher δ18O diatom values around +34.7‰ between c. 7.1 and 5.7 cal. ka BP are considered to reflect the Holocene Thermal Maximum. A continuous depletion in δ18O diatom since c. 6.1 cal. ka BP accelerates after c. 4 cal. ka BP, indicating Middle to Late Holocene cooling that culminates during the interval 0.8-0.2 cal. ka BP, corresponding to the Little Ice Age. Lake-level rises result in lower δ18O diatom values, whereas lower lake levels cause higher δ18O diatom values. The diatom isotope record gives an indication for a rather early opening of the Neva River outflow at c. 4.4-4.0 cal. ka BP. Generally, overall high δ18O diatom values around +33.5‰ characterize a persistent evaporative lake system throughout the Holocene. As the Lake Ladoga δ18O diatom record is roughly in line with the 60°N summer insolation, a linkage to broader-scale climate change is likely.

Description: Here we provide four ArcGIS map packages with georeferenced files on the spatial distribution of Antarctic petrels, Adélie penguins (breeders and non-breeders) and Emperor penguins in the wider Weddell Sea (Antarctica), which were created in the context of the development of a marine protected area in the Weddell Sea. Antarctic petrel (Thalassoica antarctica): We approximated potential foraging habitats of T. antarctica according to existing literature by ice coverage from AMSR-E sea ice maps, bathymetric data from the International Bathymetric Chart of the Southern Ocean (IBCSO), and seawater temperature data from the Finite Element Sea Ice - Ocean Model (FESOM) provided by R. Timmermann (AWI). Subsequently, we combined our Antarctic petrel model with the kernel utilization distribution model from Descamps et al. (2016). The authors kindly provided us with shape files showing the kernel utilization summer and winter distribution of Antarctic petrel breeding at Svarthamaren. Breeding locations and estimated number of breeding pairs were taken from van Franeker et al. (1999). Favourable habitat conditions for Antarctic petrels were predicted for the Lazarev Sea and along the eastern coast of the Weddell Sea, particularly for the area off the Fimbul Ice Shelf and along the coast between approx. 15°E to 10°W within a water depth range from approx. 500 m to 2500 m. Breeding Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae): The map of potential foraging habitats of breeding P. adeliae is based on British Antarctic Survey (BAS) Inventory data from Phil Trathan (ID 754) and Mike Dunn and P. Trathan (ID 764, 773, 779), a dataset from BAS (P. Trathan) and Instituto Antártico Argentino (Mercedes Santos) (ID 753) and a dataset from the US AMLR Program from Jefferson Hinke and Wayne Trivelpiece (NOAA) (ID 910), which are stored in the Birdlife International's Seabird Tracking Database (data request: 20-10-2015). Suitable foraging habitats for breeding Adélies from colonies from which no tracking data were not available were approximated by a 50 km buffer and a 50-100 km ring buffer around each colony according to the recommendations of a CCAMLR MPA planning workshop. Breeding locations and estimated abundance of breeding pairs were taken from Lynch and LaRue (2014). The tracking data were processed with a state-space model described by Johnson et al. (2008) and were implemented in the R package crawl (Johnson 2011). Jefferson Hinke (NOAA) kindly provided us with support running the R script. Highly suitable foraging habitats occurred about 50 km away from the colonies on King Georg Island, the colony in Hope Bay (Graham Land) and the colonies on the South Orkney Islands. Non-breeding Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae): The map of potential foraging habitats of non-breeding P. adeliae is based on British Antarctic Survey (BAS) Inventory data from Phil Trathan (ID 754) and Mike Dunn and P. Trathan (ID 773, 779), a dataset from BAS (P. Trathan) and Instituto Antártico Argentino (Mercedes Santos) (ID 753) and a dataset from the US AMLR Program from Jefferson Hinke and Wayne Trivelpiece (NOAA) (ID 910), which are stored in the Birdlife International's Seabird Tracking Database (data request: 20-10-2015). The tracking data were processed with a state-space model described by Johnson et al. (2008) and were implemented in the R package crawl (Johnson 2011). Jefferson Hinke (NOAA) kindly provided us with support running the R script. Highest habitat utilisation was concentrated in relative small areas (e.g., close to King Georg Island). However, the non-breeding Adélies seemed to roam through large parts of the Weddell Sea. Emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri): The probability map of A. forsteri occurrence was developed as a function of distance to colony and colony size from Fretwell et al. (2012, 2014) as well as from sea ice concentration from AMSR-E sea ice maps. Our model of emperor penguin foraging distribution during breeding season showed that the probability of occurrence is highest at the Halley and Dawson colony near Brunt Ice Shelf and at the Atka colony near Ekstrøm Ice Shelf. More information on the spatial analysis is given in working paper WG-EMM-16/03 and WG-SAM-17/30 (for T. antarctica) submitted to the CCAMLR Working Group on Ecosystem Monitoring and Management (EMM) and the CCAMLR Working Group on Statistics, Assessments and Modelling (SAM), respectively (available at https://www.ccamlr.org/en/wg-emm-16 and https://www.ccamlr.org/en/wg-sam-17).

Description: Here we provide two ArcGIS map packages with georeferenced files on the spatial distribution of seals in the wider Weddell Sea (Antarctica), which were created in the context of the development of a marine protected area in the Weddell Sea. Spatial distribution of seals based on aerial surveys: The map of the spatial distribution of crabeater seals is based on modelled seal abundances from Flores et al. (2008) and Forcada et al. (2012). These modelled abundances were supplemented by abundance data derived from Bester et al. (1995, 2002) and by point data from Plötz et al. (2011a-e), which were translated into abundance values by the count method for line transect data. The calculated data on seal abundances from Plötz et al. (2011a-e) and Bester et al. (1995, 2002) were interpolated using the inverse distance weighted method. The combined data set of modelled and interpolated abundances showed highest absolute seal abundances offshore the Riiser-Larsen Ice Shelf and Quarisen Ice Shelf. Spatial distribution of seals based on tracking data: The map of probability of seal occurrence is based on all tracking data publicly available for the wider Weddell Sea from the MEOP data portal "Marine Mammals Exploring the Oceans Pole to Pole" (data request: 14-11-2016). In addition, we have used MEOP data (UK data: ct27, ct70; German data: ct113, wd06, wd07) for which unconditional sharing is not yet accepted. These data were provided by Lars Boehme (University of St. Andrews) and Horst Bornemann (AWI), respectively. Furthermore, the data from the MEOP data portal were complemented by tracking data sets on southern elephant seals (Tosh et al. 2009, James et al. 2012), Weddell seals (McIntyre et al. 2013) and crabeater seals (Nachtsheim et al. 2016). All tracking data united were processed with a state-space model described by Johnson et al. (2008) and were implemented in the R package crawl (Johnson 2011). The tracking data analysis indicated frequent occurrence of seals in a larger area off the Brunt and Filchner Ice Shelf (approx. 25°W-40°W), and in smaller patches along the eastern Weddell Sea ice shelfs as well as in the region around the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. More information on the spatial analysis is given in working paper WG-EMM-16/03 and WG-SAM-17/30 submitted to the CCAMLR Working Group on Ecosystem Monitoring and Management (EMM) and the CCAMLR Working Group on Statistics, Assessments and Modelling (SAM), respectively (available at https://www.ccamlr.org/en/wg-emm-16 and https://www.ccamlr.org/en/wg-sam-17).