Falklands Symposium: Q&A with Dr Virginia Edgcomb (USA)

Following in the footsteps of Charles Darwin, the first ever Pan–American Science Delegation to the Falkland Islands is participating in a week-long mission to showcase the beauty of the UK South Atlantic Overseas Territories and immense opportunities for scientific research and collaboration in the Falkland Islands and South Georgia.

Scientists from the US, Canada, Chile, Brazil, Mexico and Columbia have the opportunity to form partnerships and collaborate with the South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute (SAERI) with the aim of establishing the Falklands and the wider South Atlantic as a place for groundbreaking scientific research.

Follow the delegation at #FalklandSci

Q: The Falkland Islands are a largely un-researched, pristine environment for scientific exploration but also due to its remote location not much is known about life on the island.  What did you expect the Falklands to be like in terms of culture and heritage? How is the reality different to your expectations?  

I envisioned the Falklands to be dominated by fishing and sheep ranching, and this turned out to be fairly true. I had no idea of the landscape however, and I have been captivated by its rich flora, fauna, and geology, the rolling landscape, and the friendliness of its people. I remember the Falklands War in 1982, and I’m impressed by the independence and pride of local Falklanders, while at the same time saddened by the scars that remain from that war, and the difficulties the islanders still face.

Q: SAERI and the Falkland Islands Government highlight that environmental stewardship is vital to establishment of home for scientific expertise on the Islands as well as its long term sustainability. What have you observed in this regard on the Island?

I see that there is almost a universal recognition among Falkland Islanders that environmental stewardship is a priority. Even among islanders who are keen to develop local potential hydrocarbon resources, there is recognition that the most valuable richness of the Falkland Islands lies in its natural resources of flora and fauna, both terrestrial and marine. This awareness truly sets the Falklands apart from most societies where environmentalism springs out of reaction to habitat destruction and consequent impacts on human health and recreation. The Falklands are uniquely poised to develop potential resources in the region that may bring the islanders significant economic benefit, including hydrocarbons in a sustainable fashion. They have demonstrated this ability with their fisheries management. I would argue that establishment of scientific expertise here in the Falklands is essential for providing that environmental stewardship. Infrastructure to support that science is needed.

Q: As a scientist and expert in your field, what are you hoping to get out of this delegation?

I am here to learn from the other delegates and from SAERI scientists, local officials, and other interested parties, what the key gaps in knowledge are regarding local and regional ecosystems. I am hoping to meet local and international scientists who would like to work collaboratively to advance our understanding of local marine ecosystems. The Falkland Islands are influenced greatly by polar currents. Polar environments are experiencing rapid shifts due to climate change. A unique opportunity exists to monitor the propagating impacts of climate change on subantarctic environments including the Falkland Islands. I see that there is a valuable opportunity to collect baseline data on water column microbial diversity and biogeochemical cycling, physicochemical data, and atmospheric monitoring data. This information can then be compared with future data to evaluate impacts of climate change and/or impacts of resource exploitation, and are essential for an informed understanding of the local environment.

Q: The UK places a great deal of value on excellence in Science and the importance of the internationalisation of Science. Do you have international collaborations in place with the UK?  If so, please describ

Internationalization of science goes hand in hand with collaborative interdisciplinary science, and is optimal for addressing questions about resource management and impacts of climate change— both topics that in many cases do not lend themselves to international boundaries because they impact people all over the globe. While almost all of my research is collaborative and involves international partners, I do not yet have collaborations with scientists from the UK. I’m hopeful that at least one outcome of this week’s discussions will be a joint international collaboration encompassing water column and atmospheric studies.

Q: Global environmental challenges require international cooperation to achieve effective solutions. SAERI is a world class research institute working in the South Atlantic. What ways do you see SAERI contributing now and in the future

Climate change is occurring fastest in our polar regions at the moment. SAERI is located in the perfect position geographically to contribute significantly to advancing our knowledge of South Atlantic ecology and the impacts of climate change on that. By building infrastructure (scientific vessel access, and research facilities) SAERI will be able to host significant international teams of collaborators who can contribute to advancing SAERI’s objectives. I hope that SAERI becomes the central hub of South Atlantic fisheries, climatology, and marine ecology research.

Q: Describe what you do and how the Falklands Islands provide an environment for scientific study. What are the broader applications of your work?

I am a marine microbial ecologist, and I traditionally focus on oxygen-depleted marine water columns and sediments. By providing data on how microbial communities respond to oxygen decline and other changes in physicochemical regimes, in terms of diversity and activities, I can help the community predict how global climate change may impact major biogeochemical cycles at the base of our marine food webs. The location of the Falklands Islands in the Southern Ocean and the importance of polar currents in this area for the supply of nutrient-rich waters to local fisheries means that climate change-induced alterations to currents and weather can have a potentially significant impact on local ecology. Putting in place studies and instrumentation that will help us all understand present microbially-mediated processes and to monitor future shifts in community composition and activity is particularly important for a global understanding of climate change impacts, as well as for local needs to sustainably manage resources.

Q: This delegation was designed to bring together delegates from a diverse range of countries and academic backgrounds in order to build a network of people who know about and use the Island as a scientific resource. What role do you think this scientific delegation will play in creating links between countries and disciplines?

This delegation has brought together a wide range of expertise and perspectives to bear on questions about the ecology and future of the Falklands Islands. From what I have seen so far this week, many exciting potential collaborations between local scientists, government agencies, and visiting delegates have been identified. Now it is up to us all to work to obtain funding for these very exciting opportunities!

Dr Virginia Edgcomb completed her graduate studies at the University of Delaware where she studied salt marsh ecosystems.  She has has been at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution since 2002 where her research program currently focuses on understanding the microbiology of marine chemocline sediments and water columns.