Status assessment of non-native terrestrial species in Antarctica

NeoBiota, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 98, P. 197 - 222

Published: April 14, 2025

Antarctica has been subject to direct human activity for a little over 200 years. In recent decades, the combination of sharp increases in and regional climate change, particularly around Antarctic Peninsula Scotia Arc, have placed terrestrial freshwater environment under increased threat non-native species introduction establishment. Policymakers, including those on Treaty Consultative Meeting’s Committee Environmental Protection, need accurate up-to-date information presence status within upon which base their decision-making. Here we collate available consider known Antarctic, how this changed past decade. Of establishments, found 46% deliberately introduced during historical transplant experiments subsequently removed, 36% were non-experimental introductions, 18% only survive(d) synanthropically (i.e., associated with facilities). All currently established natural are located either Peninsula, South Shetland Islands or Orkney maritime region, none continental Antarctic), invertebrate dominating. Most now present more than decade, though appearance flies station sewage treatment plants expansion into is major cause concern. While there some success eradicating plants, management invertebrates largely not attempted. Considerable scope exists Parties better coordinate across invasion continuum.

Language: Английский

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How the COVID-19 pandemic signaled the demise of Antarctic exceptionalism

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 10(9)

Published: March 1, 2024

This paper explores how the COVID-19 pandemic affected science and tourism activities their governance in Antarctic Southern Ocean. The reduced ability of Treaty Parties to make decisions on policy issues placed a considerable burden researchers. Tourism was effectively suspended during 2020–2021 season heavily 2021–2022 but rebounded record levels 2022–2023. stimulated reflection practices facilitate dialog, especially through online events. Opportunities arose integrate innovations developed more permanently into practices, relation open science, reducing operational greenhouse gas footprints barriers access research facilitating data sharing. However, as well long-term impacts arising directly from pandemic, an assemblage major geopolitical drivers are also play and, combined, these signal weakening exceptionalism early Anthropocene.

Language: Английский

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Conservation features of the terrestrial Antarctic Peninsula

AMBIO, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 53(7), P. 1037 - 1049

Published: April 8, 2024

Abstract Conserving landscapes used by multiple stakeholder groups requires understanding of what each values. Here we employed a semi-structured, participatory approach to identify features value in the terrestrial Antarctic Peninsula related biodiversity, science and tourism. Stakeholders identified 115 features, ranging from Adélie penguin colonies sites suitable for snowshoeing tourists. We split into seven broad categories: science, tourism, historic, geographic, habitat, intrinsic finding that biodiversity category contained most any one category, while stakeholders group. have overlapping interests some particularly seals seabirds, indicating thoughtful consideration their inclusion future management is required. Acknowledging importance tourism other social Antarctica ensuring integration conservation planning assessment will increase likelihood implementing successful environmental strategies future.

Language: Английский

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A call to strengthen international collaboration to assess climate change effects in polar regions

PLOS Climate, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 3(10), P. e0000495 - e0000495

Published: Oct. 4, 2024

Climate change is exerting complex and transformative effects in the Arctic Antarctic; regions that are essential to global climate, biodiversity, sustainable futures. Given polar regions’ roles Earth’s system, a robust, coordinated, innovative strategy monitor manage climate needed. Insufficient baseline data, inconsistent international collaboration, short-term financing obstacles effectively these changes. This hinders our understanding of biodiversity shifts, their implications for food security, mitigation. Confronting impacts will require interdisciplinary collaboration genuine participation nations, including Indigenous communities. sentiment includes facilitating cooperation address scientific objectives despite political tensions. Additional recommendations include establishing regular requirements track progress based on available science, optimizing use existing infrastructure resources, enhancing data sharing practices, securing long-term sustain research. While pan-Antarctic pan-Arctic initiatives present useful strategies, not silver bullet. They do, however, provide starting point further work. Ultimately, by building upon harnessing successful components, we can limitations or fragmented studies. We outline tools resources research, examples collaborative efforts build upon, knowledge systems valuable this undertaking.

Language: Английский

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From spatial prioritization to conservation management in the Southern Ocean using the marine IBAs approach

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 296, P. 110721 - 110721

Published: July 13, 2024

Language: Английский

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Ireland and the Antarctic Treaty System

Antarctic Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 21

Published: Nov. 6, 2024

Abstract Ireland has a rich Antarctic history, with Bransfield, Crozier, Shackleton, Crean and others acting as key Irish individuals in exploration. Recognized source of national pride, memorials, stamps, coins government research vessel all commemorate their polar feats. Today, large proportion Ireland's citizens visit the region researchers produce high levels academic outputs on topics relative to many other nations. However, not acceded any Treaty System instruments, despite 20 year campaign do so by cross-party politicians. largest population nation European Union (EU) yet accede is much larger than some existing signatory states. accession provides no entitlement participate governance, which reserved for Consultative Parties, therefore undertaking associated legal administrative work may be considered poor use available resources. attainment consultative status would an even more complex resource-intensive goal, but collaboration EU global partners could cost-effective solution that also indirectly support ambitions Observer at Arctic Council.

Language: Английский

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Practitioners' perspectives on the enablers and barriers to successful Antarctic science‐policy knowledge exchange

Environmental Policy and Governance, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Dec. 7, 2024

Abstract Multilateral environmental governance regimes like the Antarctic Treaty System are pivotal in addressing today's wicked transboundary socio‐ecological problems and central to their success is facilitation of constructive knowledge exchange (KE) between research policymaking communities. Consequently, literature now ripe with studies that aim uncover elements enable or hinder KE successes across diverse settings. Yet, context, practices comprise science‐policy interfaces remain empirically under examined. Here we contribute by exploring perspectives 31 practitioners develop our understandings successful policy contexts Consultative Meetings Committee for Environmental Protection. By adopting a reflexive thematic analysis, identify 11 enablers 9 barriers overlapping, interconnected complex. According practitioners, face pervasive barriers, such as often overshadowing effect politics, deficiency incentives large‐scale problems, certain institutions portray strong boundary spanning expertise, which despite many challenges identified, serves facilitate support evidence‐informed decision‐making. However, extent spanners influential leadership varies, while acknowledging an important enabler success, raise several questions regarding potentially unexplored assumptions underpin current practices. As share desire foster inclusive, iterative multidirectional dialogues among other identified improvements, suggest harnessing reflexivity humility within these processes will be critically ensuring existing asymmetries inequities not reinforced guise improved ways working.

Language: Английский

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The Antarctic Specially Protected Species conservation management tool: Development, use and future outlook

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 299, P. 110835 - 110835

Published: Nov. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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