Living in a Challenging Environment: Monitoring Stress Ecology by Non-Destructive Methods in an Antarctic Seabird DOI
Silvia Olmastroni, Silvia Simonetti, Niccolò Fattorini

et al.

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

How Antarctic species are facing historical and new stressors remains under-surveyed risks to wildlife still largely unknown. Adélie penguins Pygoscelis adeliae well-known bioindicators sentinels of ecosystem changes, a true canary in the coal mine. Immuno-haematological parameters have been proved detect stress wild animals, given their rapid physiological response that allows them track environmental changes thus infer habitat quality. Here, we investigated variation Erythrocytes Nuclear Abnormalities (ENAs) White Blood Cells (WBCs) from three clustered colonies Ross Sea, evaluating immuno-haematological according geography, breeding stage, individual penguin characteristics such as sex, body condition nest Concentrations mercury (Hg) stable isotopes carbon nitrogen (as proxies penguin’s trophic ecology) were analysed feathers investigate association between biomarkers Hg contamination penguins. Colony stage not supported predictors parameters. ENAs WBCs respectively ~30% ~20% higher male than female Body influenced WBCs, with best having ~22% level those worst condition. Nest position affected proportion micronuclei (MNs), inner-nesting more times MNs nesting peripheral positions. Heterophils:Lymphocytes (H:L) ratio was by any predictor. Multiple factors acting expected increase prominently on near future, therefore extensive monitoring aimed assess health status populations is mandatory.

Language: Английский

Ocean protection quality is lagging behind quantity: Applying a scientific framework to assess real marine protected area progress against the 30 by 30 target DOI Creative Commons
Elizabeth P. Pike, Jessica MacCarthy, Sarah O. Hameed

et al.

Conservation Letters, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 17(3)

Published: May 1, 2024

Abstract The international community set a global conservation target to protect at least 30% of the ocean by 2030 (“30 × 30”) reverse biodiversity loss, including through marine protected areas (MPAs). However, varied MPAs result in significantly different outcomes, making MPA coverage alone an inadequate metric. We used Guide framework assess world's largest 100 area, representing nearly 90% reported and 7.3% analyzed distribution quality across political ecological regions. A quarter assessed is not implemented, one‐third incompatible with nature. Two factors contribute this outcome: (1) many lack regulations or management, (2) some allow high‐impact activities. Fully highly account for area but are unevenly distributed ecoregions part because nations have designated large, their overseas remote territories. Indicators quality, only coverage, needed ensure network that covers effectively safeguards representative ecosystems from destructive human

Language: Английский

Citations

19
Severe 21st-century ocean acidification in Antarctic Marine Protected Areas DOI Creative Commons
Cara Nissen, Nicole S. Lovenduski, Cassandra M. Brooks

et al.

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Jan. 4, 2024

Antarctic coastal waters are home to several established or proposed Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) supporting exceptional biodiversity. Despite being threatened by anthropogenic climate change, uncertainties remain surrounding the future ocean acidification (OA) of these waters. Here we present 21st-century projections OA in MPAs under four emission scenarios using a high-resolution ocean-sea ice-biogeochemistry model with realistic ice-shelf geometry. By 2100, project pH declines up 0.36 (total scale) for top 200 m. Vigorous vertical mixing carbon produces severe throughout water column and existing MPAs. Consequently, end-of-century aragonite undersaturation is ubiquitous three highest scenarios. Given cumulative threat marine ecosystems environmental change activities such as fishing, our findings call strong emission-mitigation efforts further management strategies reduce pressures on ecosystems, continuation expansion

Language: Английский

Citations

13
Omnivorous summer feeding by juvenile Antarctic krill in coastal waters DOI Creative Commons
John A. Conroy, Deborah K. Steinberg, Schuyler C. Nardelli

et al.

Limnology and Oceanography, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 69(4), P. 874 - 887

Published: Feb. 23, 2024

Abstract The Antarctic krill Euphausia superba is often considered an herbivore but notable for its trophic flexibility, which includes feeding on protistan and metazoan zooplankton. Characterizing position (TP) important understanding carbon energy flow from phytoplankton to vertebrate predators the deep ocean, especially as plankton composition sensitive changing climate. We used repeated field sampling experiments study by juvenile during three austral summers in waters near Palmer Station, Antarctica. Our approach was combine seasonal budgets, gut fluorescence measurements, imaging cytometry, compound‐specific isotope analysis of amino acids. Field measurements coupled experimentally derived grazing functional response curves suggest that alone insufficient support growth basal metabolism krill. Phytoplankton consumption limited due inefficient nanoplankton (2–20 μ m), constituted majority autotrophic prey. Mean TP dietary fraction increased years with higher mesozooplankton biomass, not biomass. Comparing estimates using δ 15 N different acids indicated a substantial consistent food‐web contribution heterotrophic protists. Phytoplankton, metazoans, protists all were contributors diverse diet changed substantially among years. Juvenile fed mostly prey summer this food web complexity should be more broadly throughout Southern Ocean.

Language: Английский

Citations

5
Deep sea nature-based solutions to climate change DOI Creative Commons
Nathalie Hilmi, Michael Sutherland,

Shekoofeh Farahmand

et al.

Frontiers in Climate, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 5

Published: July 6, 2023

The deep sea (below 200 m depth) is the largest carbon sink on Earth. It hosts abundant biodiversity that underpins cycle and provides provisioning, supporting, regulating cultural ecosystem services. There growing attention to climate-regulating ocean services from scientific, business political sectors. In this essay we synthesize unique biophysical, socioeconomic governance characteristics of critically assess opportunities for deep-sea blue mitigate climate change. Deep-sea consists fluxes storage including transferred atmosphere by inorganic organic pumps water, sequestered in skeletons bodies organisms, buried within sediments or captured carbonate rock. However, mitigating change through enhancement suffers lack scientific knowledge verification, technological limitations, potential environmental impacts, a cooperation collaboration, underdeveloped governance. Together, these issues suggest mitigation limited. Thus, strong focus too limited framework managing contribute international goals, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Paris Agreement post-2020 Biodiversity Goals. Instead, can be viewed as more holistic nature-based solution, many addition climate. Environmental impact assessments (EIAs), area-based management, pollution reduction, moratoria, accounting fisheries management are tools treaties could help realize benefits deep-sea, solutions.

Language: Английский

Citations

12
Plasticity and seasonality of the vertical migration behaviour of Antarctic krill using acoustic data from fishing vessels DOI Creative Commons
Dominik Bahlburg, Lukas Hüppe,

Thomas Böhrer

et al.

Royal Society Open Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 10(9)

Published: Sept. 1, 2023

Understanding the vertical migration behaviour of Antarctic krill is important for understanding spatial distribution, ecophysiology, trophic interactions and carbon fluxes this Southern Ocean key species. In study, we analysed an eight-month continuous dataset recorded with ES80 echosounder on board a commercial fishing vessel in southwest Atlantic sector Ocean. Our analysis supports existing hypothesis that swarms migrate into deeper waters during winter but also reveals high degree variability within seasons, even at small scales. During summer, found associated prolonged surface presence primarily occurred low chlorophyll concentrations whereas multiple ascent-descent cycles per day when were elevated. The plasticity, some behaving differently same location time, suggests not purely environmentally driven process. Differences life stage, physiology type predator are likely other drivers. Finally, our study demonstrates new ways using data from vessels, routine collection additional information potential future projects, they have great to significantly advance ecology.

Language: Английский

Citations

11
Whale recovery and the emerging human-wildlife conflict over Antarctic krill DOI Creative Commons
Matthew S. Savoca,

Mehr Kumar,

Zephyr Sylvester

et al.

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Sept. 10, 2024

Language: Английский

Citations

4
Do subsidies drive Southern Ocean fishery operations? A comprehensive analysis of Southern Ocean fishery subsidies and the economics of distant water fleets DOI Creative Commons
Vasco Chavez‐Molina, Steve J. Miller,

Louise Teh

et al.

Frontiers in Ocean Sustainability, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 3

Published: Feb. 6, 2025

Across the high seas, distant water fisheries have benefited from government subsidies. Public funds directed toward supporting fishery sector enabled these to extend their range and duration at sea, threatening fish populations health of ocean ecosystems. Fuel subsidies been identified as primary form subsidy, often allowing fishing vessels continue operations despite declining revenues. While significant attention has understanding on a global scale, magnitude specific Southern Ocean remained largely unknown. The accounts for 10% oceans, its two main fisheries, Antarctic krill toothfishes, are managed by Commission Conservation Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). Through data collection in interviews, our study provides comprehensive analysis complex that underpin fisheries. Our research drew upon 29 expert interviews with industry representatives, officials, researchers 13 CCAMLR Member States engaged activities Ocean. most commonly included: fuel subsidies; tax breaks; discounted loans; research, development, innovation grants; infrastructure support; import However, results show that, based few companies heavily depend subsidies, subsidy allocation varying greatly State. For majority States, insufficient induce changes operations. Instead, private organizations continually adjust economic strategies operational dynamics increase profitability lower expenses, foregoing relocating (e.g., home ports) foreign closer This suggests nuanced, needing further investigation regional, Nation State, company level scale.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
A circumpolar study of surface zooplankton biodiversity of the Southern Ocean based on eDNA metabarcoding DOI

Zishang Zhang,

Yongchao Bao,

Xiaoyue Fang

et al.

Environmental Research, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 255, P. 119183 - 119183

Published: May 19, 2024

Language: Английский

Citations

3
Living in a challenging environment: Monitoring stress ecology by non-destructive methods in an Antarctic seabird DOI Creative Commons
Silvia Olmastroni, Silvia Simonetti, Niccolò Fattorini

et al.

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 922, P. 171249 - 171249

Published: Feb. 29, 2024

How Antarctic species are facing historical and new stressors remains under-surveyed risks to wildlife still largely unknown. Adélie penguins Pygoscelis adeliae well-known bioindicators sentinels of ecosystem changes, a true canary in the coal mine. Immuno-haematological parameters have been proved detect stress wild animals, given their rapid physiological response that allows them tracking environmental changes thus inferring habitat quality. Here, we investigated variation Erythrocytes Nuclear Abnormalities (ENAs) White Blood Cells (WBCs) from three clustered colonies Ross Sea, evaluating immuno-haematological according geography, breeding stage, individual penguin characteristics such as sex, body condition nest Concentrations mercury (Hg) stable isotopes carbon nitrogen (as proxies penguin's trophic ecology) were analysed feathers investigate association between biomarkers Hg contamination penguins. Colony stage not supported predictors parameters. ENAs WBCs respectively ~30 % ~20 higher male than female Body influenced WBCs, with best having ~22 level those worst condition. Nest position affected proportion micronuclei (MNs), inner-nesting more times MNs nesting peripheral positions. Heterophils:Lymphocytes (H:L) ratio was by any above predictors. Multiple factors acting expected increase prominently near future, therefore extensive monitoring aimed assess health status populations is mandatory.

Language: Английский

Citations

2
Long-distance Southern Ocean environmental DNA (eDNA) transect provides insights into spatial marine biota and invasion pathways for non-native species DOI Creative Commons
Georgia Nester, L. Suter, John A. Kitchener

et al.

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 951, P. 175657 - 175657

Published: Aug. 22, 2024

The Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica harbours some of the most pristine marine environments remaining, but is increasingly vulnerable to anthropogenic pressures, climate change, and invasion by non-native species. Monitoring biotic responses cumulative impacts requires temporal spatial baselines ongoing monitoring - traditionally, this has been obtained continuous plankton recorder (CPR) surveys. Here, we conduct one longest environmental DNA (eDNA) transects yet, spanning over 3000 nautical miles from Hobart (Australia) Davis Station (Antarctica). We evaluate eDNA sampling strategies for long-term open ocean biomonitoring comparing two water volume filter pore size combinations: large (12 l with 20 μm) small (2 0.45 μm). Employing a broad COI metabarcoding assay, found sample/pore combination was better suited monitoring, detecting more target rare or low abundance Comparisons four simultaneously conducted CPR revealed that detections were diverse than CPR, 7 (4 unique) 4 (1 phyla respectively. While both methods effectively delineated biodiversity patterns across Ocean, enables surveys in presence sea-ice where cannot be conducted. Accordingly, 16 species concern detected along transect using eDNA, notably Antarctic region (south 60°S). These largely attributed hull biofouling, recognized pathway introductions into Antarctica. Given vulnerability potential warming work underscores importance continued biosecurity vigilance. advocate integrating emphasising urgency its implementation. anticipate interweaving biophysical data will generate nuanced picture ecosystems, significant implications conservation preservation ecosystems.

Language: Английский

Citations

2