Ocean warning! A review of climate change effects on Antarctic marine ecosystems

Abstract

Antarctic marine environments are unique in nature due the cold temperatures they encompass and their isolation from the global oceans. Antarctic marine species hence represent a high degree of endemism and have a range of adaptations to cope with the extreme polar conditions of the Southern Ocean. However, due to climate change and the associated effects of global warming, these adaptations now face challenges to tolerate rising temperatures. Pressures such as the decline of sea ice and ecosystem collapse pose threats not only to lower trophic level species such as krill, that highly depend on sea ice for food and shelter, but on the entire Antarctic marine ecosystem. By reviewing the tolerance levels of species to ocean warming, it can provide an invaluable tool for predicting future species distribution and the successfulness of response to change. A review on experimental acclimation data suggest that most species are unable to acclimate to even the smallest rises in sea water temperature. Assumed climatic change of the Earth makes this of extreme concern. Increased scientific understanding of lower trophic species life stages, resilience and their adaptiveness, can aid in the establishment of future conservation and management strategies to prevent species loss. Responding to the global climate change crisis is of significant importance, and is therefore in urgent need to protect of the legacy of Antarctic marine biodiversity.