POLEs Project Update

Polar coastal ecosystems, the nearshore waters of Antarctica and the Arctic, are among the most productive and least understood environments on Earth. These regions are changing at an alarming pace: accelerating glacial melt is altering ocean salinity and restructuring the microscopic food webs that sustain everything from krill to whales to penguins. Yet the shallow coastal zones where these changes are most acute remain dramatically understudied.

POLEs (Plankton Observations of Lifecycles and Ecobiomes), an Explorers Club Flag #44 Expedition, was designed to fill that gap. POLEs is a collaborative polar science effort integrating coastal surveys, glacial ice diving, advanced imaging, marine ecology, and environmental policy assessment led by Dr. Angel Yanagihara (Explorers Club Fellow, Polar Diver, and University of Hawaii research professor).

POLEs Expeditions (completed 2022 – 2025)

During multiple Polar Expeditions to Antarctica and the Arctic Circle, scientists, researchers, and explorers collected and documented microscopic plankton species, eDNA samples, and physical oceanographic data. Project work completed:

• Antarctic Peninsula and Arctic Circle fieldwork aboard polar research vessels
• Daily scuba dives with certified scientists and imaging specialists
• Stratified net collections, CTD casts, eDNA sampling, and live light microscopy
• Samples spanning salinity gradients across multiple bays

Scientific Work & Analysis (in progress 2026)

• Abstract submitted and accepted by SCAR Open Science Conference
• eDNA analysis to reveal hidden biodiversity across collected samples
• High resolution microscopy and analytical chemistry for microplastics and morphology
• Genomic sequencing and pigment analysis to assess ecosystem health
• Findings to be presented at SCAR in Oslo in August 2026

Scientific Data & Policy Significance

POLEs data directly informs the most pressing policy decisions facing polar governance. The findings will provide scientific justification for key management actions under the Antarctic Treaty System, CCAMLR, United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and other international agreements, such as the new UN High Seas Treaty (BBNJ).

Biosecurity: Biosecurity protocols for the growing Antarctic tourism fleet, triggered by the first documented appearance of invasive temperate plankton species

Climate: Carbon sequestration policy that documents the shift from carbon-sinking diatoms to smaller flagellates that retain CO₂ at the surface

Fisheries: CCAMLR krill catch limits, which are legally bound to evidence on plankton-to-predator food web dynamics

MPAs: Marine Protected Area designations for the Antarctic Peninsula and Weddell Sea. Currently, proposals are stalled for lack of baseline nearshore data.

Scientific Deliverables

• POLEs abstract accepted by SCAR Open Science Conference. Findings are to be presented at the 12th Open Science Conference, Oslo (August 2026), the world’s premier Antarctic science forum
• First-ever baseline dataset for specific nearshore polar plankton ecosystem analyses
• High-resolution image and video library to be archived in NCBI and public repositories
• STEM curriculum materials including plankton ID microscopy video modules
• Preparation and submission of peer‑reviewed, open‑access scientific papers
• Foundational work for a long-term time-series of polar microbiome monitoring

The Intersection of Science, Policy & Education

To realize the full scientific and educational potential of this work, we are seeking to raise $100,000 through our giving fund at the University of Hawai’i Foundation. Your tax‑deductible contribution directly supports open‑access peer‑reviewed publications, presentation of new findings at the 2026 SCAR Open Science Conference, creation of the first baseline dataset for nearshore polar plankton ecosystems, and the development of public image archives and STEM curriculum materials.  Your support today helps build the foundation for long‑term polar biome monitoring and broad public understanding.

How You Can Help

Gifts are fully tax-deductible can be made via QR code below or online through the UH Foundation website:

https://giving.uhfoundation.org/funds/13036204

Please reference UH Foundation POLEs Account: 13036204

For POLEs scientific inquires please email Dr. Angel Yanagihara: ayanagih@hawaii.edu

For POLEs policy inquiries, please call Michael Carvalho email: mpc@carvalholawfirm.com

Thank you in advance for your support. All gifts will be acknowledged in writing. Our supporters will be provided project updates following our SCAR Presentation in August 2026. Our  intention is then to present Policy findings at the UNESCO World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development United Nations Conference which takes place from January 13 to January 15, 2027 in Nairobi, Africa.