Table 2. - Benthic community characteristics along Victoria Land, Antarctica, from the 2004 R/V \"Italica\" cruise

This paper describes the conceptual framework of the Latitudinal Gradient Project that is being implemented by the New Zealand, Italian and United States Antarctic programmes along Victoria Land, Antarctica, from 72°S to 86°S. The purpose of this interdisciplinary research project is to assess the dynamics and coupling of marine and terrestrial ecosystems in relation to global climate variability. Preliminary data about the research cruises from the R/V \"Italica\" and R/V \"Tangaroa\" along the Victoria Land Coast in 2004 are presented. As a global climate barometer, this research along Victoria Land provides a unique framework for assessing latitudinal shifts in 'sentinel' environmental transition zones, where climate changes have an amplified impact on the phases of water.

本文阐述了由新西兰、意大利及美国南极科考项目联合实施的纬度梯度项目（Latitudinal Gradient Project）的概念框架，该项目沿南极洲维多利亚地（72°S至86°S范围）开展。本跨学科研究项目的核心目标，是评估与全球气候变率相关的海洋与陆地生态系统的动力过程及耦合关系。本文还呈现了2004年R/V“意大利卡号（Italica）”与R/V“坦加罗阿号（Tangaroa）”沿维多利亚地海岸开展考察所获取的初步数据。作为全球气候晴雨表，本次在维多利亚地开展的研究，为评估“哨兵型”环境过渡带的纬度迁移提供了独特框架——此类过渡带中，气候变化对水相状态具有显著放大影响。