Portuguese researchers will analyze samples collected in Antarctica

After 15 days on board the sailboat, a team of Portuguese scientists returned from Antarctica with a huge array of samples to analyze in several areas, namely the presence of microplastics in the waters and in the food chain.

During the first Portuguese scientific sailing expedition to the Antarctic Peninsula, they encountered changes caused by climate change in this region of the globe, as well as large amounts of tourism and the excessive proximity of cruise ships to glaciers, which could lead to problems, they suggested.

“Antarctica is changing due to climate change. The peninsula is one of the areas most affected by climate change. Moreover, it is also one of the areas where there are more scientific bases. There is a lot of tourism here, so pollution levels are also increasing. it is expected to increase,” researcher Milen Guerreiro from the University of Coimbra told Lusa, speaking about the importance of the project she is developing.

The expedition included 12 explorers, 10 of whom were Portuguese, who took on many other projects. Today in Lisbon they gave a positive assessment of the trip, but the results will become known only after analyzing the collected samples.

“My goal is to study the distribution of microplastics along the Antarctic Peninsula. We want to study and connect with zooplankton, which is the base of the food chain,” explained Mylène Guerreiro, a graduate student in ecology.

“Microplastics, in addition to being a danger of being eaten by organisms, also act like a sponge and can absorb toxic substances found in water and then be transferred into the food chain,” he added.

Water samples were also collected to try to establish a link to bacteria in the water at different locations and bacteria present in microplastics.

The samples for this study have only now arrived, after analytical work has been carried out to determine the type of pollutants present in microplastics and the distribution of zooplankton: “Where there is more of it, where there is less of it, what species are there,” he said.

Work reports will be prepared throughout the year. At the end of the presentation they promised a documentary film “coming soon”.

The researchers arrived in Portugal three months ago, but a batch of samples from the Coastantar 2024 expedition had to be transported at different stages.

“In total, the mission took a month, between trips and reaching Antarctica. We spent 15 days on board the sailing ship, and the samples have only just arrived,” the researcher said.

At sea they encountered waves of three to four meters, but overall the trip went well, he admitted.

“For me it exceeded all expectations, in terms of sample collection it was really good,” said Milena Guerreiro.

Samples collected on land as part of other projects accompanied the researchers on their return journey. In the case of Mylene Guerreiro, the collected material had to be transported frozen and packaged in alcohol, which is more difficult from a transportation point of view.

Scientists from the Universities of Lisbon, Algarve and Coimbra took part in a presentation held today at the Cidade Universitária, where some of the materials used were presented, as well as photographs taken during the trip.