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Antarctica: The final frontier for marine biological invasions
- Source :
- Global Change Biology
- Publication Year :
- 2019
- Publisher :
- John Wiley and Sons Inc., 2019.
-
Abstract
- Antarctica is experiencing significant ecological and environmental change, which may facilitate the establishment of non‐native marine species. Non‐native marine species will interact with other anthropogenic stressors affecting Antarctic ecosystems, such as climate change (warming, ocean acidification) and pollution, with irreversible ramifications for biodiversity and ecosystem services. We review current knowledge of non‐native marine species in the Antarctic region, the physical and physiological factors that resist establishment of non‐native marine species, changes to resistance under climate change, the role of legislation in limiting marine introductions, and the effect of increasing human activity on vectors and pathways of introduction. Evidence of non‐native marine species is limited: just four marine non‐native and one cryptogenic species that were likely introduced anthropogenically have been reported freely living in Antarctic or sub‐Antarctic waters, but no established populations have been reported; an additional six species have been observed in pathways to Antarctica that are potentially at risk of becoming invasive. We present estimates of the intensity of ship activity across fishing, tourism and research sectors: there may be approximately 180 vessels and 500+ voyages in Antarctic waters annually. However, these estimates are necessarily speculative because relevant data are scarce. To facilitate well‐informed policy and management, we make recommendations for future research into the likelihood of marine biological invasions in the Antarctic region.<br />Are there non‐native marine species in Antarctica? With over 500 visits from more than 180 vessels annually and rapidly changing environmental conditions, Antarctica appears to be increasingly vulnerable to impacts from non‐native marine species. We explore factors that influence the likelihood of non‐native marine species establishing in the Antarctic region, present new estimates for human activity, and make recommendations to researchers, environmental managers and policy makers.
- Subjects :
- 0106 biological sciences
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences
Environmental change
Biodiversity
Climate change
Antarctic Regions
Introduced species
alien species
invasion pathways
010603 evolutionary biology
01 natural sciences
Ecosystem services
biofouling
Environmental Chemistry
Humans
Marine ecosystem
Ecosystem
Seawater
14. Life underwater
marine ecosystems
shipping
Southern Ocean
0105 earth and related environmental sciences
General Environmental Science
Global and Planetary Change
Ecology
Research Reviews
Research Review
15. Life on land
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
introduced species
Geography
climate change
13. Climate action
Cryptogenic species
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 13652486 and 13541013
- Volume :
- 25
- Issue :
- 7
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Global Change Biology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....710fae1359d983ee3126f3a3d88cde91