Unveiling the terrestrial eukaryote diversity of Antarctica

The terrestrial eukaryote diversity of Antarctica is more poorly known than its marine counterpart. In part, this is due to the absence of a current inventory of terrestrial diversity. This project aims to provide such an inventory. By doing so it will improve conservation, undertaken through the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, because conservation begins with knowing what is present. A key target of the Environmental Protocol is the special protection of the type locality of every species described from Antarctica. The type locality is that place from which a species was first formally described. To date, this target has not been realized, largely because a list of these localities is unavailable. This project will deliver such a list to enable assessment of how best to protect type localities given the current network of Antarctic Specially Protected Areas. The project outcomes will help further Australia's reputation as an Antarctic conservation leader.