May 9th, Head of the Expedition, Alfred Wegener Institute of Polar and Marine Research (AWI) Dr. Julian Gutt visited IOCAS and delivered ​​a presentation on polar ecosystems and the marine environment, titled ‘Antarctic Thresholds - Ecosystem Resilience and Adaptation (AnT-ERA), a new SCAR biology program’ Dr. Li Chaolun and Dr. Li Yanwei welcomed the foreign guest.

Dr. Li Chaolun introduced the basic situation of IOCAS and our institute’s recent Antarctic research progress and achievement. In Dr. Julian Gutt’s report, he expressed that Antarctic ecosystems are unique but not isolated, the rapid environmental change provides a globally significant opportunity to understand ecosystem functioning. The study requires special and diverse methods, for example, to examine biological PROCESSES, to define their TOLERANCE limits and to determine RESISTANCE and RESILIENCE to change. In addition, he mentioned Ant-ERA with ACCE, the ICED, SOOS, CCAMLR all need to research from genes, populations, ecosystem level etc...

The main purpose of Dr. Julian Gutt’s visiting is to promote research organizations worldwide and Antarctic biological and ecological scientists work together to exchange their views and the latest research results. There are three following research topics introduced by Dr. Julian Gutt：1. Physiological limits, biomolecular processes, and thresholds; 2. Population processes; 3. Ecosystem functioning & services; during the presentation he discussed with the researchers and students on these issues.  

After the presentation, Dr. Julian Gutt visited Marine Biological Specimen Museum and jellyfish breeding lab accompanied by colleagues of international cooperation office. He was shocked by the stock of biological specimens in the Marine Biological Specimen Museum and had strong interests with specimens collected from Antarctic region.

Introduction of Dr. Julian Gutt

Dr. Julian Gutt, Head of the Expedition, Alfred Wegener Institute of Polar and Marine Research (AWI). He is the co-editor and lead author of the Antarctic Climate Change and the Environment report (ACCE). Dr. Julian Gutt was the chief scientist aboard the German research vessel "Polarstern" in the Antarctic. His main research programs are 1.Role of Ice Sheets in the Earth System; 2.Ocean Warming and Acidification: Organisms and their changing Role in Marine Ecosystems. His own research topics Biocomplexity-- Identification of driving forces of polar ecosystems, for further Information can be found:http://www.awi.de/de/forschung/fachbereiche/biowissenschaften/bentho_pelagische_prozesse/research_themes/biocomplexity/