Hydrobiologist Lyubomir Kenderov Argues for Holistic Approach to Studying Nature

Interviewed by BTA, Associate Professor Lyubomir Kenderov, a hydrobiologist at Sofia University's Faculty of Biology, said he is involved in a project dedicated to integrating several scientific fields into a single holistic approach to studying nature. He has participated in the last four Bulgarian Antarctic expeditions and is part of the current 32nd expedition to the Bulgarian base on Livingston Island. Kenderov is working on a project dedicated to life in marine waters.

He is a specialist in bottom crustaceans but his project is interdisciplinary. The first group of scientists on the 32nd expedition also includes Associate Professor Raina Hristova, a marine geologist from the Institute of Oceanology of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS). She will focus on studying bottom sediments at the sites where Kenderov will study deep-sea life.

Benefits of the research project

"Bulgarian scientists have been crossing the Ice Continent for over three decades and have achieved many interesting results in geology, glaciology, climatology and biology. This is the first time we have reached a more mature level of research that integrates different disciplines. In addition to marine biology, which is my specialty, we will be studying two more environmental components. The first component is the marine life of the Southern Ocean. We will also study the sediments which form the habitat, the water and its parameters. Our project is dedicated to integrating different scientific fields into a single holistic approach to studying nature," said Kenderov.

The team

The hydrobiologist explained that in addition to Raina Hristova from the Institute of Oceanology, the 15-member team includes scientists from Spain, reputed polar researchers who have explored the waters around Livingston and Deception Islands and the South Shetland Islands in general for over 20 years. He said work on the project will involve specialists in bottom organisms, marine biologists and ice divers. "They will pass on to us their experience from diving in the icy waters of the Southern Ocean. Our project also includes scuba diving for live observation of the undisturbed ecosystems," the researcher said. When dredgers and probes collect samples from the bottom, the natural state of the sediments, habitats and the organisms themselves is disturbed and cannot be observed.

The international project also involves young doctoral students who will use the results for their first research.

"The idea for such an interdisciplinary project came from the doyen of Bulgarian polar research, Prof. Christo Pimpirev. On a beautiful summer day he asked me and Raina Hristova if we would bring biology and geology together in a common project," said Kenderov.

A few more countries working in biology and geology have come to this idea. ''It has only started to develop in the South Shetland Islands, so we are among the first to engage in such multidisciplinary research. I am delighted that we will have the opportunity to share data and knowledge on taking a holistic view of the living and non-living world of this unique continent, alongside the major powers," the scientist added.

Difficulties in combining biology and geology

Kenderov explained that the main difficulties start with the organization of the expedition and with the insufficient funding of science. There is a big difference between funding for logistics and construction and allocating money for science.

"Although our project is innovative, we had an extremely tight budget to cover the trip and some minimal analysis. For me, that was the worst difficulty. Our society does not seem to be mature enough to invest more in science. It is extremely important to emphasize the need to create new laboratory facilities. A new lab complex is under construction. Science needs long-term funding so that scientists like us can build a reputation as specialists in a field. This is a two-year project. There are also one-year projects and when they come to an end, we still need to continue developing in a certain field. If we are not given a chance, we lose the initiative to do this very complex research in Antarctica at all," he explained.

"Our two-year bio-geo project is in its second year. The previous expedition was the first to use a Bulgarian ship. We did our first research on the project on board the naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii, but it was mainly done in the shallow areas between zero and about 20 m, mainly from a boat, as it is dangerous for the ship to approach the shallows. During the current expedition, we have to work from the ship, in the greater depths, and the South Bay, where the Bulgarian base is located, has depths of over 200 m. With the help of the ship's commanding officer and crew, we will try to launch scientific instruments - bottom-dredgers and probes which will allow us to work in the greater depths," said Lyubomir Kenderov.

Main problems

"The main pre-departure difficulties for any expedition are related to the fact that there are no shops in Antarctica, either for personal or for scientific equipment. If we forget to pack something, we may compromise both our research and our comfort. For instance, if we forget to pack thermal underwear, we will be cold. The expedition has been months in the making. Having participated in four expeditions, I have a list of personal equipment, but the projects are new and we always run the risk of forgetting something. I am glad that we got some of the equipment on board the naval research vessel, which is already on its way, including diving cylinders and compressors. Still, we are going to a place where every detail matters," said Kenderov.

He went on to explain that there are also serious emotional difficulties. "We are parting with family and friends, with our loved ones, for months on end, and this certainly affects us. Add to this the cold, the routine, living with other people in a small, cramped space for a long time - you get the picture. People who have travelled, and encounter these difficulties, especially trained researchers, have no problems. Scientists have one very big advantage over the others - the technicians, I would even say the sailors - the crew, who are much more prepared than we are. Scientists are absorbed in their work and sometimes they forget about the difficult conditions. They are engrossed in science as they analyse the samples, write labels, view specimens under a microscope, take pictures of creatures pulled out of the water as I do, and things can sometimes be very easy. One works all day and does not think about the adversities which are part of any remote expedition," said Kenderov.

Kenderov and his team are leaving with the first group of the expedition and are expected to stay until February. He said they will have enough time to implement the last stage of the research - the collection of depth samples from the South Bay and monitoring through ice-diving, photo and video recording of the underwater world. This will be done thanks to the great help provided by the Spanish scuba divers. "About two months are enough to realize all our ambitions to explore the South Bay area," he explained.