Science and earth science

Polish Polar Research

Content

Polish Polar Research | 2023 | vol. 44 | No 4

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Abstract

Developments in Arctic international relations resulting from Russia's aggression against Ukraine in 2022 stand as the most serious crisis in regional cooperation since the end of the Cold War. This crisis has necessitated a re-evaluation of the regional governance system and an update of the political strategies of Arctic stakeholders. In this article, based on qualitative research methodology, we explore the challenges to regional cooperation in the near and mid-term perspectives, and we discuss how the current situation can contribute to a transformation of Poland's role in the Arctic, particularly in the field of science diplomacy. The study includes a critical analysis of the content of the Polish Polar Policy officially adopted in 2020, as well as its implementation. We conclude that the future of Arctic relations will be based not only on the hindered functioning of the Arctic Council but also on the emergence of new competitive forms of collaboration to be developed by Russia and its partners, distancing themselves from Western states. In such a situation and in the face of the emerging opposition between the two blocs, the role of science diplomacy will substantially increase and gain new dynamics. This, in turn, means that although Poland's Arctic policy in its present framework requires only minor conceptual correction, its implementation should be considerably built up and advanced.
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Authors and Affiliations

Michał Łuszczuk
1
ORCID: ORCID
Piotr Rakowski
2
ORCID: ORCID
Monika Szkarłat
3
ORCID: ORCID

  1. Institute of Socio-Economic Geography and Spatial Planning, Maria Curie Skłodowska University, Al. Kraśnicka 2D, Lublin 20-718, Poland
  2. Independent researcher, Wróblowa Street, Rozgarty, 87-134, Poland
  3. Institute of Political Science, Maria Curie Skłodowska University, ul. Głęboka 45, Lublin 20-612, Poland
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Abstract

Polar snow and its accumulation preserve valuable information derived from the atmosphere on past climate and environmental changes in high resolution, particularly in coastal sites. A 2.5-m snow-pit was excavated from the coastal ice rise (Moore Dome) near Amundsen Sea region in February 2012. This study evaluated the isotopic and chemical compositions in the snow-pit and compared them with meteorological variables. Based on the seasonal peaks of the MSA and nssSO42– together with 18O, D, and d-excess, the snow-pit record was corresponded to accumulation during austral winter 2011 to summer 2011/2012. The annual mean accumulation rate was assumed thus to be as large as or even higher than 1.03 m w.e. yr–1 at this site. A relatively warm winter temperature in 2011 was traceable in the variations of 18O, D, and d-excess. This study emphasizes the importance of the high snow accumulation observed at this site in providing valuable information on sub-annual variations in climate and environmental changes through the study of longer ice cores.
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Authors and Affiliations

Sang-Bum Hong
1
ORCID: ORCID
Yalalt Nyamgerel
2
ORCID: ORCID
Won Sang Lee
1
ORCID: ORCID
Jeonghoon Lee
2
ORCID: ORCID

  1. Division of Glacial Environment Research, Korea Polar Research Institute, 26, Songdomirae-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 21990, Korea
  2. Department of Science Education, Ewha Womans University, 52, Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-750, Korea
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Abstract

Studies on the surface-active agents added during the cultivation process proved their effect on the synthesized bioproducts. The biosynthesis and accumulation of exopolysaccharide and biomass by Antarctic producer Cryptococcus laurentii AL65 were studied in submerged cultivation using different carbon sources in the culture medium added to a one-percent concentration (pentoses, hexoses and oligosaccharides). Sucrose was chosen as the most appropriate carbon source for the cell growth and extracellular polymer biosynthesis. Absorption of sucrose by a strain producer was monitored and the residual sugars were traced in the dynamics of the fermentation process. The effect of polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) on the cell growth and the accumulation of the synthesized biopolymer were studied for the first time with the Antarctic producer. The optimal increase in the amount of accumulated exopolysaccharide was recorded at a concentration of 6% Tween 80 at 24 h from the start of fermentation. The surfactant treatment contributed to an increase in the total amount of lipids in the cell, to the increased biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids compared to saturated ones, and to the increased cellular synthesis of valuable metabolites such as phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine. The impact of Tween 80 on intracellular and extracellular metabolites is a valuable asset in a possible scale-up of the process in industrial settings.
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Authors and Affiliations

Snezhana Rusinova-Videva
1
ORCID: ORCID
Zhana Petkova
2
ORCID: ORCID
Ginka Antova
2
ORCID: ORCID
Plamen Stoyanov
3 4
ORCID: ORCID
Tsvetelina Mladenova
3
ORCID: ORCID
Tzenka Radoukova
3
ORCID: ORCID

  1. The Stephan Angeloff Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 139 Ruski Blvd, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
  2. Department of Chemical Technology, University of Plovdiv Paisii Hilendarski, 24 Tz. Assen, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
  3. Department of Botany, University of Plovdiv Paisii Hilendarski, 24 Tz. Assen, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
  4. Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Medical University of Plovdiv, 15A V. Aprilov, 4000, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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Abstract

Seabirds constitute an important link between marine and terrestrial ecosystems, one of its manifestations being the transport of organic matter from the sea to breeding grounds. The main aim of our study was to determine the impact of gregarious and planktivorous little auks on the quantity and chemistry of soil organic matter along the western coast of Spitsbergen, Svalbard archipelago. Samples from the vicinity of four breeding colonies and respective controls were investigated using the elemental analyzers as well as the Fourier transform infrared spectrometer with attenuated total reflection module. The results clearly indicate that soils affected by little auks are characterized by significantly higher content of soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, water-extractable organic carbon, and water-extractable total nitrogen in comparison with those unaffected by the birds. The size of the local population of little auks appears to be the crucial factor here. The chemistry of soil organic matter in soils affected by little auks is significantly different from that in soils unaffected by the birds. This is associated with fertilization of soils via guano deposition as well as differences in the quantity and quality of vegetation cover related to aforementioned process.
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Authors and Affiliations

Wojciech Szymański
1
ORCID: ORCID
Adrian Zwolicki
2
Katarzyna Zmudczyńska-Skarbek
2
ORCID: ORCID
Lech Stempniewicz
2
ORCID: ORCID

  1. Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University, ul. Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
  2. Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, University of Gdańsk, ul. Wita Stwosza 59, 80–308, Gdańsk, Poland

Instructions for authors


The quarterly Polish Polar Research invites original scientific papers dealing with all aspects of polar research. The journal aims to provide a forum for publication of high-quality research papers, which are of international interest.

We warmly welcome review papers and proposals for thematic Special Issues.

Articles must be written in English. Authors are requested to have their manuscript read by a person fluent in English before submission. They should not be longer than 30 typescript pages, including tables, figures and references. However, upon request, longer manuscripts may be considered for publication. All papers are peer-reviewed. With a submitted manuscript, authors should provide e-mail addresses of at least three suggested reviewers.


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