Polar Regions

Cambridge University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 2319 - 2368

Published: June 22, 2023

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Language: Английский

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Macro- and Microplastics in the Antarctic Environment: Ongoing Assessment and Perspectives

Environments, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 9(7), P. 93 - 93

Published: July 15, 2022

The number of scientists and tourists visiting Antarctica is on the rise and, despite management framework for environmental protection, some coastal areas, particularly in Antarctic Peninsula region, are affected by plastic contamination. few data available occurrence microplastics (<5 mm) difficult to compare, due different methodologies used monitoring studies. However, indications emerging guide future research implement protocols. In surface subsurface waters Southern Ocean, debris >300 µm appears be scarce far less abundant than paint chips released from vessels. Yet, near scientific stations, fragmentation degradation larger items, as well microbeads microfibers into wastewater personal care products laundry, could potentially affect marine organisms. Some studies indicate that, through long-range atmospheric transport, fibers produced other continents can deposited Antarctica. Drifting also cross Polar Front, with potential carry alien fouling organisms Ocean. Sea ice dynamics appear favor uptake algae krill, key species food web. Euphausia superba apparently has ability fragment expel ingested particles at nanoscale. most endemic species, unique ecophysiological adaptations extreme conditions likely highly sensitive cumulative stresses caused climate change, anthropogenic disturbances. Although there limited evidence date that micro- nanoplastics have direct biological effects, our review aims raising awareness problem order assess real impact Antarctica, underlines urgency fill methodological gaps their detection all matrices, equip stations ships adequate treatment plants reduce release microfibers.

Language: Английский

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Status, Change, and Futures of Zooplankton in the Southern Ocean

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 9

Published: June 17, 2022

In the Southern Ocean, several zooplankton taxonomic groups, euphausiids, copepods, salps and pteropods, are notable because of their biomass abundance roles in maintaining food webs ecosystem structure function, including provision globally important services. These groups consumers microbes, primary secondary producers, prey for fishes, cephalopods, seabirds, marine mammals. providing link between production, higher trophic levels these taxa influence energy flows, biological production biomass, biogeochemical cycles, carbon flux web interactions thereby modulating functioning ecosystems. Additionally, Antarctic krill ( Euphausia superba ) various fish species harvested by international fisheries. Global local drivers change expected to affect dynamics key species, which may have potentially profound wide-ranging implications Ocean ecosystems services they provide. Here we assess current understanding dominant metazoan within other euphausiid, copepod, salp pteropod species. We provide a systematic overview observed potential future responses changing functional relationships impact them. To support assessments conservation management strategies, also identify priorities research.

Language: Английский

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Biological responses to change in Antarctic sea ice habitats

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 10

Published: Jan. 23, 2023

Sea ice is a key habitat in the high latitude Southern Ocean and predicted to change its extent, thickness duration coming decades. The sea-ice cover instrumental mediating ocean–atmosphere exchanges provides an important substrate for organisms from microbes algae predators. Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba, reliant on sea during phases of life cycle, particularly larval stages, food refuge their predators, while other small grazers, including copepods amphipods, either live brine channel system or find shelter at ice-water interface gaps between rafted blocks. Fish, such as silverfish Pleuragramma antarcticum , use platelet (loosely-formed frazil crystals) essential hatching nursery ground. In this paper, we apply framework Marine Ecosystem Assessment (MEASO) review current knowledge about relationships associated primary production secondary consumers, status drivers ocean. We then qualitative network modelling explore possible responses lower trophic level biota different perturbations, warming air ocean temperatures, increased storminess reduced annual duration. This shows that pelagic algae, copepods, krill fish are likely decrease response temperatures duration, salp populations will increase under conditions number days &gt;0°C. Differences these pressures five MEASO sectors were also explored. Greater impacts environmental ice-related occurring presently found West East Pacific (notably Ross western Peninsula), with flow-on effects wider ecosystem. All expected be impacted over Finally, highlight priorities future biological research address field.

Language: Английский

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Severe 21st-century ocean acidification in Antarctic Marine Protected Areas

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

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Microplastics in Antarctica - A plastic legacy in the Antarctic snow?

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 966, P. 178543 - 178543

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Global Connectivity of Southern Ocean Ecosystems

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 9

Published: Aug. 4, 2021

Southern Ocean ecosystems are globally important. Processes in the Antarctic atmosphere, cryosphere, and directly influence global atmospheric oceanic systems. biogeochemistry has also been shown to have importance. In contrast, ocean ecological processes often seen as largely separate from rest of system. this paper, we consider degree connectivity at different trophic levels, linking with ocean, their importance not only for regional ecosystem but wider Earth We human system connections, including role supporting society, culture, economy many nations, influencing public political views hence policy. Rather than being defined by barriers particular fronts, changes gradual due cross-front exchanges involving oceanographic organism movement. Millions seabirds hundreds thousands cetaceans move north out polar waters austral autumn interacting food webs across Hemisphere, a few species cross equator. A number migrate into east west ocean-basin boundary current continental shelf regions major southern continents. Human travel region includes fisheries, tourism, scientific vessels all sectors. These operations arise particularly Northern important local communities well national economic, scientific, activities. As result extensive connectivity, future will consequences throughout system, affecting services socio-economic impacts world. The high level means that policy decisions marine outside south Polar Front. Knowledge is critical interpreting change, projecting change impacts, identifying integrated strategies conserving managing both broader

Language: Английский

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Responses of Southern Ocean Seafloor Habitats and Communities to Global and Local Drivers of Change

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 8

Published: May 13, 2021

Knowledge of life on the Southern Ocean seafloor has substantially grown since beginning this century with increasing ship-based surveys and regular monitoring sites, new technologies greatly enhanced data sharing. However, habitats their communities exhibit high spatial variability heterogeneity that challenges way in which we assess state benthos larger scales. The Antarctic shelf is rich diversity compared deeper water areas, important for storing carbon (“blue carbon”) provides habitat commercial fish species. In paper, focus shelf, are vulnerable to drivers change including ocean temperatures, iceberg scour, sea ice melt, acidification, fishing pressures, pollution non-indigenous Some most areas include West Peninsula, experiencing rapid regional warming increased iceberg-scouring, subantarctic islands tourist destinations where human activities environmental conditions increase potential establishment species active around South Georgia, Heard MacDonald Islands. Vulnerable those low thermal tolerance, calcifying susceptible acidity as well slow-growing habitat-forming can be damaged by gears e.g., sponges, bryozoan, coral Management regimes protect key from activities; some will need more protection than others, accounting specific traits make vulnerable, slow growing long-lived species, restricted locations optimum physiological available food, distributions rare Ecosystem-based management practices long-term, highly protected may effective tools preservation habitats. Here, outlining responses observed date projections future. We discuss action preserve under climate change, pressures other anthropogenic impacts.

Language: Английский

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Southern Ocean Food Web Modelling: Progress, Prognoses, and Future Priorities for Research and Policy Makers

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 9

Published: Oct. 14, 2021

Graphical Abstract summary of multiple aspects Southern Ocean food web structure and function including alternative energy pathways through pelagic webs, climate change fisheries impacts the importance microbial networks benthic systems.

Language: Английский

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Antarctic benthic ecological change

Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 5(9), P. 645 - 664

Published: Sept. 3, 2024

Language: Английский

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