Antarctic extreme events

Frontiers in Environmental Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 11

Published: Aug. 8, 2023

There is increasing evidence that fossil-fuel burning, and consequential global heating of 1.1°C to date, has led the increased occurrence severity extreme environmental events. It well documented how such events have impacted society outside Antarctica through enhanced levels rainfall flooding, heatwaves wildfires, drought water/food shortages episodes intense cooling. Here, we briefly examine for in Southern Ocean across a variety environments timescales. We show vulnerable natural Antarctic systems are highlight governance protection continent must take them into account. Given future additional at least 0.4°C now unavoidable (to contain “Paris Agreement 1.5°C” scenario), may indeed be higher unless drastic action successfully taken on reducing greenhouse gas emissions net zero by mid-Century, explain it virtually certain will more pronounced than those observed date.

Language: Английский

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The need for increased protection of Antarctica's inland waters

Antarctic Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 35(2), P. 64 - 88

Published: April 1, 2023

Abstract Protection of Antarctica's biodiversity and ecosystem values is enshrined in the Protocol on Environmental to Antarctic Treaty, which provides for designation Specially Protected Areas (ASPAs) areas with outstanding values. Concern has been raised that existing ASPAs fail prioritize maximize likelihood ensuring long-term conservation ecosystems biodiversity. The absence systematic representative protection particularly acute inland aquatic ecosystems, support a disproportionate amount This paper promotes case overt inclusion waters as critical component protected area framework Antarctica, thereby addressing their current underrepresentation. We set out structured approach enable selection freshwater systems ASPA that, modification, could also be applied across other habitats. acknowledge an overall lack information biogeography diversity recommend increased use remote data collection along classification tools mitigate this, well need consideration catchment-scale processes. Changes accompany contemporary anticipated climate change make increasingly urgent.

Language: Английский

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Ninety years of change, from commercial extinction to recovery, range expansion and decline for Antarctic fur seals at South Georgia

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 29(24), P. 6867 - 6887

Published: Oct. 15, 2023

With environmental change, understanding how species recover from overharvesting and maintain viable populations is central to ecosystem restoration. Here, we reconstruct 90 years of recovery trajectory the Antarctic fur seal at South Georgia (S.W. Atlantic), a key indicator in krill-based food webs Southern Ocean. After being harvested commercial extinction by 1907, this population rebounded now constitutes most abundant otariid World. However, its status remains uncertain due insufficient conflicting data, anthropogenic pressures affecting krill, an essential staple for millions seals other predators. Using integrated models, estimated simultaneously long-term abundance Bird Island, northwest Georgia, epicentre after sealing, adjustments survey counts with spatiotemporal applicability. Applied latest comprehensive 2007-2009 as 3,510,283 [95% CI: 3,140,548-3,919,604] (ca. 98% global population), 40 maximum growth range expansion owing krill supply. At 50 exponential followed 25 slow stable growth, collapsed 2009 has thereafter declined -7.2% [-5.2, -9.1] per annum, levels 1970s. For instrumental record, correlates time-varying relationship between coupled climate sea surface temperature cycles associated low regional availability, although effects increasing extraction fishing natural competitors remain uncertain. Since 2015, longevity recruitment have dropped, sexual maturation retarded, expected mostly negative highly variable. Our analysis documents rise fall Ocean predator over century profound change.

Language: Английский

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The future of the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands marine protected area in a changing environment: The choice between industrial fisheries, or ecosystem protection

Marine Policy, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 155, P. 105773 - 105773

Published: July 18, 2023

South Georgia and the Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) comprise an Overseas Territory of UK. For over two centuries, islands surrounding waters were subject to serial over-exploitation commercially valuable marine species. First seals, then whales, later some species fish harvested virtual economic extinction. Today, exploitation is strictly regulated: through multilateral Convention on Conservation Antarctic Marine Living Resources; commercial whaling moratorium International Whaling Commission; now, increasingly, local sovereign government legislation. Commercial fisheries still operate for three one crustacean, krill. Here, I consider aspects these fisheries, help inform current review SGSSI Protected Area (MPA), highlighting how future management must take into account important ongoing changes in this biodiverse ecosystem. Two issues are paramount importance: recovery baleen whale species; climate change. Both increase uncertainty managers, so that considerations about their implications now be directly included dependent With previously exploited species, others, MPA could managed with additional ecologically-appropriate large no-take areas, commensurate increasing levels ocean protection advocated by a growing number scientists governments. Spatial reflecting habitat use whales prey, krill, would, umbrella protection, also protect other biodiversity integral operation

Language: Английский

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A seal’s tale: de novo colonization of an intertidal sandbar in a highly anthropized harbor by the Harbor and Grey seals

Regional Studies in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 104144 - 104144

Published: March 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Ecological consequences of a single introduced species to the Antarctic: terrestrial impacts of the invasive midge Eretmoptera murphyi on Signy Island

Soil Biology and Biochemistry, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 180, P. 108965 - 108965

Published: Jan. 23, 2023

The nutrient-poor soils of Antarctica are sensitive to change. Recent increases in the number anthropogenic introductions mean that understanding impact non-native species on Antarctic is pertinent, and essential for developing future risk assessments management strategies. Through comparative baseline vegetation, microbes, soil chemistry, substrate composition micro-arthropod abundance, this study explored if there detectable terrestrial ecosystem impacts resulting from introduction chironomid midge Eretmoptera murphyi Signy Island maritime Antarctica. key finding was E. likely driver an increase inorganic nitrogen availability within which it occurs. When compared with levels present influenced by native vertebrate wildlife aggregations, local nitrate associated similar caused deposits seals giant petrel colonies. Overall, available has increased three-to five-fold colonised midge, relative undisturbed soils. This may ultimately rates decomposition as well plant communities Island.

Language: Английский

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Communicating the best available science to inform Antarctic policy and management: a practical introduction for researchers

Antarctic Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 35(6), P. 438 - 472

Published: Oct. 18, 2023

Abstract Communication at the science-policy interface can be bewildering not only for early-career researchers, but also many within research community. In context of Antarctica and Southern Ocean, decision-makers operating Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) aspire to use best available science as a basis their decision-making. Therefore, maximize impact Parties' substantial investment in southern polar research, researchers wishing contribute policy management must understand 1) how work relates potentially inform and/or global 2) mechanisms by which communicated decision-makers. Recognizing these needs, we describe main legal instruments relevant governance (primarily ATS) associated meetings stakeholders that development region. We highlight effective may communicate into realm, including through National Delegations or Scientific Committee on Research (SCAR), detail key contemporary topics interest decision-makers, those issues where further is needed. Finally, challenges slow halt development.

Language: Английский

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Incidental pinnipeds at high latitudes of the Vestfold Hills, Prydz Bay, East Antarctica

Antarctic Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 36(4), P. 225 - 230

Published: Jan. 30, 2024

Abstract Species distributions are predicted to change with future climate-associated ecosystem changes such that so-called ‘vagrant’ individuals may become established or re-establish in areas currently thought be beyond their principle ranges. Survey data were collated for occurrences of pinniped (seal) species at very high latitudes the Vestfold Hills, East Antarctica. Aside from Weddell seals ( Leptonychotes weddellii ) and southern elephant Mirounga leonina ), which aggregate annually Hills breed and/or moult, three other observed recession fast-ice edge. Leopard seal Hydrurga leptonyx increased an increase a seasonally abundant prey resource, crabeater Lobodon carcinophaga seen time coincides moult period. Occurrences sub-adult male Antarctic fur Arctocephalus gazella known southward range this reflect population increases source populations Kerguelen Plateau area. Although there no direct sightings Ross Ommatophoca rossii presence close was detected by underwater passive acoustic monitoring. Sightings obligate drift-ice sub-Antarctic climate-mediated sea-ice conditions.

Language: Английский

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The impact of marine vertebrates on polar terrestrial invertebrate communities

Polar Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 47(9), P. 805 - 820

Published: April 26, 2023

Abstract Marine birds and pinnipeds which come to land breed, rest moult are widely known fertilize adjacent terrestrial ecosystems, with cascading effects on vegetation other trophic levels. We provide a synthesis of the consequences allochthonous nutrient enrichment for invertebrate communities within around marine vertebrate aggregation sites sources in High Arctic Continental Maritime Antarctic, most nutrient-poor environmentally extreme parts polar regions. Using combination literature review (identifying 19 articles from Svalbard archipelago 12 different Antarctic locations) new analyses available datasets springtail, mite tardigrade community composition, we confirmed that abundance species richness tended increase, their compositions changed, as result fertilisation both These changes were significantly greater talus slopes enriched by kittiwakes, guillemots little auks Arctic, compared edges penguin colonies Antarctic. Both these habitat areas typically abundantly vegetated provided favourable microhabitat conditions invertebrates. The heavily disturbed manured rookeries seal wallows, generally flat or gently sloping ground, characterised extremely low diversity. In only directly beneath densely-occupied bird cliffs some extent comparably barren. Invertebrate responses dependent activity, local topography development.

Language: Английский

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Influence of marine vertebrates on organic matter, phosphorus and other chemical element levels in Antarctic soils

Polar Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 45(10), P. 1571 - 1580

Published: Oct. 1, 2022

Abstract The presence of marine vertebrates in dense reproductive colonies and other aggregations contributes to the input organic matter nutrients into local environment it is believed that chemical elements are subsequently remobilized from excreta these animals. In this study, we investigated influence on trace levels (As, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Li, Lu, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Sn, Sr, Tb, U Zn), nutrient (total phosphorus) soil (SOM) content five locations with without seabirds mammals Admiralty Bay, King George Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. Soils were acid digested using a microwave digestion system, quantified inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry SOM was calculated by loss-on-ignition. non-influenced vertebrate-influenced soils had similar concentrations most assessed, however, observed significant increase P positively correlated As, Sr Zn. Although did not appear significantly elemental examined here, there clear evidence selective enrichment indicating zoogenic influence. Comparing our results studies, conclude result an interplay between geology, vertebrate diet colony size. Further studies increased sample size required obtain better understanding element Antarctic soils.

Language: Английский

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