Antarctic and Southern Ocean science is vital to understanding natural variability, the processes that govern global change and the role of humans in the Earth and climate system. The potential for new knowledge to be gained from future Antarctic science is substantial. Therefore, the international Antarctic community came together to 'scan the horizon' to identify the highest priority scientific questions that researchers should aspire to answer in the next two decades and beyond. Wide consultation was a fundamental principle for the development of a collective, international view of the most important future directions in Antarctic science. From the many possibilities, the horizon scan identified 80 key scientific questions through structured debate, discussion, revision and voting. Questions were clustered into seven topics: i) Antarctic atmosphere and global connections, ii) Southern Ocean and sea ice in a warming world, iii) ice sheet and sea level, iv) the dynamic Earth, v) life on the precipice, vi) near-Earth space and beyond, and vii) human presence in Antarctica. Answering the questions identified by the horizon scan will require innovative experimental designs, novel applications of technology, invention of next-generation field and laboratory approaches, and expanded observing systems and networks. Unbiased, non-contaminating procedures will be required to retrieve the requisite air, biota, sediment, rock, ice and water samples. Sustained year-round access to Antarctica and the Southern Ocean will be essential to increase winter-time measurements. Improved models are needed that represent Antarctica and the Southern Ocean in the Earth System, and provide predictions at spatial and temporal resolutions useful for decision making. A co-ordinated portfolio of cross-disciplinary science, based on new models of international collaboration, will be essential as no scientist, programme or nation can realize these aspirations alone.

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The Southern Ocean is experiencing relentless change. The Antarctic and Southern Ocean community, represented by 75 scientists and policy-makers from 22 countries, recently met to formulate a collective vision on the priorities for Antarctic research for the next two decades and beyond. Here, we assess high-interest research areas related specifically to Southern Ocean life and ecology that, although not all retained as the 80 top priorities among the addressed scientific domains, are of considerable relevance to the biology and ecology of the Southern Ocean. As certain regions of the Southern Ocean ecosystems have witnessed abiotic and biotic changes in the last decades (e.g., warming, climate variability, changes in sea ice, and abundance of marine organisms), such an exercise was urgently needed. We concluded that basic biological information on the taxonomy of numerous organisms is still lacking in areas, such as the deep-ocean floor or the under-ice environments. Furthermore, there is a need for knowledge about the response and resilience of Antarctic marine ecosystems to change. The continuation of a long-term commitment and the development and use of innovative technology to adequately monitor the Southern Ocean ecosystems is required. Highlighting the most important Southern Ocean research topics allow the identification of the challenges and future requirements in technological development, and both research and funding strategies for the various stakeholders.

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We synthesise the available literature on marine debris and its impacts in the sub-Antarctic islands, the Antarctic Peninsula and on the coasts of Antarctica. A total of 98 documents covering reports from 1982 to 2010 were included, and of these 95% had their full contents accessed. Seventy documents were obtained online as scientific abstracts from the Commission on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). The occurrence of marine debris in the Antarctic environment, fur seal entanglement in marine debris, interactions between seabirds and marine debris and long range transport of benthos on floating plastics were the main issues identified. Fishing operations in the Southern Ocean were identified as the major source of marine debris, but depending on the type of debris reported, plastics from lower latitudes may also cross the Polar Front (PF). Possible links between Antarctic and South America, the closest intercontinental connection, in relation to plastic marine debris pollution are highlighted. As reported at lower latitudes, plastic pollution is an important problem now challenging the Antarctic environment. However, further specific and detailed studies are vital, since our current level of knowledge probably exposes only a small part of the full problem -the tip of iceberg.

We analyzed reports of Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic seabirds with migration routes over seven South American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela). Forty-eight species were reported, observed over oceanic and/or coastal areas. Chile presented the highest number of Antarctic seabird species (39), followed closely by Brazil (38). Diomedea exulans, D. epomophora, Thalassarche melanophris, Macronectes giganteus, Fulmarus glacialoides, Pachyptila desolota and Oceanites oceanicus were the most common species, recorded in six of the seven searched countries. The least reported species were Pygoscelis adeliae, Thalassoica antarctica, Pagodroma nivea, Pachyptila salvini and Pterodroma inexpectata, observed in one country each. According to the IUCN, the species with migration routes over the South American countries are considered endangered (three species), vulnerable (eight species) and near threatened (eight species). Consequently, it is important to protect not only breeding habitats in the Antarctic environment, but their entirely migration routes over South America. Keywords: Pelagic seabirds; conservation areas; biodiversity. RESUMO AVES MARINHAS ANTÁRTICAS E SUB-ANTÁRTICAS RESUMENAVES MARINAS ANTÁRTICAS Y SUB-ANTÁRTICAS EN AMÉRICA DEL SUR: UNA REVISION. Analizamos registros de aves marinas antárticas y sub-antárticas en países de América del Sur (Argentina, Brasil, Chile, Ecuador, Perú, Uruguay y Venezuela) en publicaciones científicas, disertaciones, tesis y libros. Se registraron cuarenta y ocho especies, observadas sobre áreas oceánicas o costeras de los países estudiados. Chile presentó el mayor número de especies migratorias que anidan en la Antártida (39), seguido por Brasil (38). Las especies observadas con mayor frecuencia fueron Diomedea. exulans, D. epomophora, Thalassarche melanophris, Macronectes giganteus, Fulmarus glacialoides, Pachyptila desolota y Oceanites oceanicus; las cuales fueron reportadas en seis de los siete países analizados. Asimismo, las especies con menor frecuencia fueron Pygoscelis adeliae, Thalassoica antarctica, Pagodroma nivea, Pachyptila salvini y Pterodroma inexpectata, observadas apenas en uno sólo de los países analizados. Entre las especies registradas, tres son consideradas especies amenazadas, ocho vulnerables y otras ocho clasificadas como casi amenazadas de acuerdo con IUCN. Consecuentemente, es importante proteger no sólo las áreas de nidificación en el ecosistema Antártico, sino también toda la ruta de migración de estas aves marinas sobre los países de América del Sur. Palabras clave: Aves marinas pelágicas; áreas para conservación; biodiversidad.