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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Ecosystem services in Antarctica: Global assessment of the current state, future challenges and managing opportunities

Ecosystem Services, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 49, P. 101299 - 101299

Published: May 17, 2021

Language: Английский

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Local Drivers of Change in Southern Ocean Ecosystems: Human Activities and Policy Implications

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

Published: June 24, 2021

Local drivers are human activities or processes that occur in specific locations, and cause physical ecological change at the local regional scale. Here, we consider marine land-derived pollution, non-indigenous species, tourism other visits, exploitation of resources, recovery mammals, coastal as a result ice loss, terms their historic current extent, interactions with Southern Ocean environment. We summarise projected increases decreases influence drivers, changes to geographic range, concluding fishing, mammals predicted increase future across Ocean. can be managed regionally, identify existing governance frameworks part Antarctic Treaty System instruments which may employed mitigate limit impacts on ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Seasonal gain in body condition of foraging humpback whales along the Western Antarctic Peninsula

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 9

Published: Nov. 21, 2022

Most baleen whales are capital breeders that use stored energy acquired on foraging grounds to finance the costs of migration and reproduction breeding grounds. Body condition reflects past success can act as a proxy for individual fitness. Hence, monitoring seasonal gain in body while inform how marine mammals support migration, growth, reproduction, well nutritional health overall population. Here, we photogrammetry from drone-based imagery examine humpback ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) changed over season (November June) along Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) 2017 2019. This population (IWC stock G) is recovering whaling growing rapidly, providing an opportunity study store prey-rich environment. We used area index (BAI) estimate changes applied Bayesian approach incorporate measurement uncertainty associated with different drone types data collection. biopsy samples determine sex pregnancy status, length-based maturity classification assign reproductive classes n = 228; calves 31, juveniles 82, lactating females mature males 12, unknown 56, non-pregnant pregnant 3, & 1). Average BAI increased linearly feeding each class. Lactating had lower compared other late season, reflecting high energetic nursing calf. Mature highest values. Calves juvenile exhibited increase but not structural size (body length) season. The length mothers was positively correlated their calves, no relationship observed between calves. Our establishes baseline this whale population, which help monitor future impacts disturbance climate change.

Language: Английский

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Massive circumpolar biomass of Southern Ocean zooplankton: Implications for food web structure, carbon export, and marine spatial planning

Limnology and Oceanography, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 67(11), P. 2516 - 2530

Published: Sept. 9, 2022

Abstract With rapid, sector‐specific climatic changes impacting the Southern Ocean, we need circumpolar‐scale biomass data of its plankton taxa to improve food web models, blue carbon budgets and resource management. Here, provide a new dataset on mesozooplankton with 2909 records spanning last 90 yr, describe, in comparable units, their circumpolar distribution alongside those phytoplankton, Antarctic krill, salps. our datasets, estimate total summer biomasses for phytoplankton (36 MT), (67 krill (30 salps (1.7 MT). The value is much higher than previously reported and, added that salps, points an enormous overall zooplankton Ocean. This means pyramids are often inverted, phytoplankton. Such high suggest key roles grazers nutrient cycling export ~ 50 Mt C yr −1 , solely from mortality overwintering typically reside at depth. Deep lipid respiration (the pump), example, would increase this even further. While inverted prevailed mid latitudes (50°–70°S), balance differed regionally: dominance by (highest Pacific sector), (Kerguelen Plateau), (north east Scotia Sea), (Crozet area). In light contrasting climate change impacts between these sectors, will underpin biogeochemical budgets, planning marine protected areas.

Language: Английский

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An assessment of the ecosystem services of marine zooplankton and the key threats to their provision

Ecosystem Services, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 63, P. 101542 - 101542

Published: Aug. 15, 2023

Zooplankton are a key group of organisms at the base marine food web and fundamental to providing broad range societal economic benefits which have previously remained poorly defined. This research addresses this knowledge gap through provision first full assessment zooplankton ecosystem services disservices. Anthropogenic stressors such as microplastic pollution, climate change, fisheries, could negatively affect provided humans therefore negative impact on human well-being reduction in security, livelihoods, income, good health. Deploying mixed methodology approach including semi-systematic literature review ecological assessment, we provide novel evidence effects pollution (high low concentrations), change three important groups (copepods, jellyfish, krill). We show that majority impacts negative, with exception jellyfish services. Climate high concentration evidenced most substantial copepods krill, accompanying implications for regulation, water conditions, other materials, science, entertainment. High also depressed service impacting genetic education, Fisheries all groups. In case is positive group's every category except experiential experiences, inversely related increasing population, owing their perception due sting injuries. The presented study shows by maintaining sustainable reducing plastic minimising will be actively investing current future they provide.

Language: Английский

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Dynamics and controls of ecosystem multiserviceability across the Qingzang Plateau

Geography and sustainability, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 4(4), P. 318 - 328

Published: July 12, 2023

Ecosystem multiserviceability (EMS), a comprehensive and significant ecological indicator, reflects the capacity of ecosystems to offer multiple services concurrently. Intensified climate change human activity are ongoing alter ecosystem functions, services, EMS. However, numerous studies have only focused on one or few rarely taking into account spatial-temporal distribution drivers EMS behalf different agencies. We calculated including pastoralist (PA), environmental protection agency (EPA), biodiversity conservation (BCA), mitigation (CCMA) using net vegetation productivity, habitat quality, water conservation, carbon sequestration. Then, effects geographical features, factors, activities patterns were explored. The results indicated that showed decrease tendency from southeast northwest Qingzang Plateau (QZP). Meanwhile, there no obvious fluctuations in four simulated scenarios (PA, EPA, BCA CCMA) among types during 2000 2015. Noticeably, all decreased alpine steppe ecosystem, but negligible changes found other 2015 2020. Moreover, relative importance precipitation annual mean value (from 2020) PA, CCMA 0.13, 0.11, 0.30 0.19 respectively. Overall, played dominant role dynamics EMS, followed by elevation footprint. Our findings highlighted understanding could provide reference for regional management maintenance stability QZP.

Language: Английский

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Modeling the Impact of Macrozooplankton on Carbon Export Production in the Southern Ocean

Journal of Geophysical Research Oceans, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 126(12)

Published: Nov. 5, 2021

Abstract Macrozooplankton and its grazing pressure shape ecosystem structures carbon pathways in the Southern Ocean. Here, we present implementation of “polar macrozooplankton” as a plankton functional type related fast‐sinking detritus class (fecal pellets) into biogeochemical model REcoM‐2. We use to assess major structure Ocean south 50°S. The represents zooplankton biomass spatial distribution reasonably well comparison available data. A distinct difference our from previous versions is seasonal pattern particle formation processes REcoM‐2 now captures high typical shift dominance phytodetrital aggregates spring fecal pellets later year. At sites with macrozooplankton, transfer efficiency particulate organic can be 50%, content exported material increases. In simulations, macrozooplankton an important component community, contributing up 0.12 Pg C per year (14%) total modeled export across 100 m depth. changes phytoplankton composition supports recycling macronutrients. These results support role such krill have implications for representation cycles models.

Language: Английский

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The Promise of Blue Carbon Climate Solutions: Where the Science Supports Ocean-Climate Policy

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 9

Published: April 29, 2022

The ocean is gaining prominence in climate change policy circles as a tool for addressing the crisis. Blue carbon, carbon captured and stored by marine coastal ecosystems species, offers potential “nature-based solution” to change. protection restoration of specific can form part response within mitigation policies such Nationally Determined Contributions under United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. For that seek implement management actions drawdown ecosystem sequestration emissions must be measurable across temporal spatial scales, practical leading improved avoided emissions. However, some blue interventions may not suitable better suited other instruments those targeted toward biodiversity conservation. This paper gives context numerous pathways, quantifying their sequester from atmosphere, comparing these pathways point-source reductions. applicability then discussed terms multiple international frameworks, help individuals institutions utilize appropriate framework reach conservation goals.

Language: Английский

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Protect global values of the Southern Ocean ecosystem

Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 378(6619), P. 477 - 479

Published: Oct. 20, 2022

Climate change and fishing present dual threats

Language: Английский

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