@article {4735, title = {Ten scientific messages on risks and opportunities for life in the Antarctic}, year = {2022}, month = {02/2022}, institution = {Antarctic Environments Portal}, abstract = {

Initiated by the SCAR scientific research programme \“Antarctic Thresholds \– Ecosystem Resilience and Adaptation\” (AnT-ERA, 2013-2021), 26 experts synthesized knowledge on impacts and risks of climate-change on biological processes and ecosystem functions in the Antarctic. The ten main scientific messages that emerged addressed (1) accelerating marine and terrestrial biogeochemical cycles, (2) response to ocean acidification, (3) ecological changes in climate change hot spots, (4) unexpected dynamism of marine seafloor communities, (5) biodiversity shifts, (6) low temperature limitation of protein synthesis, (7) life intrinsically linked to changing sea ice conditions, (8) pollution, (9) genetically distinct terrestrial populations under threat, and (10) newly discovered habitats. Two-thirds of the literature included in this synthesis was published between 2010 and 2020 and only one-third was published earlier. The fast mounting, recent decadal evidence indicates various Antarctic biological communities now experience climate stress, or will experience such stress in the coming decades. The responses of organisms, ecosystem functions and services to environmental changes are complex and varied. Key knowledge gaps remain and need addressing to adequately assess future prospects for life in the Antarctic.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, url = {https://environments.aq/publications/ten-scientific-messages-on-risks-and-opportunities-for-life-in-the-antarctic/}, author = {Gutt, Julian and Isla, Enrique and Xavier, Jos{\'e} C. and Adams, Byron J. and Ahn, In-Young and Cheng, C.-H. Christina and Colesie, Claudia and Cummings, Vonda J. and Griffiths, Huw J. and Hogg, Ian D. and McIntyre, Trevor and Meiners, Klaus M. and Pearce, David A. and Lloyd S. Peck and Piepenburg, Dieter and Reisinger, Ryan R. and Saba, Grace and Schloss, Irene R. and Signori, Camila N. and Smith, Craig R. and Vacchi, Marino and Verde, Cinzia and Diana H. Wall} } @article {4838, title = {The time is right for an Antarctic biorepository network}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences}, volume = {119}, year = {2022}, month = {12/2022}, abstract = {

Antarctica is a central driver of the Earth\’s climate and health. The Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica serves as a major sink for anthropogenic CO2 and heat, and the loss of Antarctic ice sheets contributes significantly to sea level rise and will continue to do so as the loss of ice sheets accelerates, with sufficient water stores to raise sea levels by 58 m. Antarctica\&$\#$39;s marine environment is home to a number of iconic species, and the terrestrial realm harbors a remarkable oasis for life, much of which has yet to be discovered. Distinctive oceanographic features of the Southern Ocean\—including the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, the Antarctic Polar Front, and exceptional depths surrounding the continent\—coupled with chronically cold temperatures have fostered the evolution of a vast number of uniquely coldadapted species, many of which are found nowhere else on the Earth. The Antarctic marine biota, for example, displays the highest level of species endemism on the Earth. However, warming, ocean acidification, pollution, and commercial exploitation threaten the integrity of Antarctic ecosystems. Understanding changes in the biota and its capacities for adaptation is imperative for establishing effective policies for mitigating the impacts of climate change and sustaining the Antarctic ecosystems that are vital to global health.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, issn = {0027-8424}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2212800119}, url = {https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2212800119}, author = {O{\textquoteright}Brien, Kristin M. and Crockett, Elizabeth L. and Byron Adams and Amsler, Charles D. and Appiah-Madson, Hannah J. and Collins, Allen and Desvignes, Thomas and Detrich, H. William and Distel, Daniel L. and Eppley, Sarah M. and Frable, Benjamin W. and Franz, Nico M. and Grim, Jeffrey M. and Kocot, Kevin M. and Mahon, Andrew R. and Mayfield-Meyer, Teresa J. and Jill A. Mikucki and Moser, William E. and Schmull, Michaela and Seid, Charlotte A. and Smith, Craig R. and Todgham, Anne E. and Watkins-Colwell, Gregory J.} } @article {4578, title = {Antarctic ecosystems in transition {\textendash} life between stresses and opportunities}, journal = {Biological Reviews}, year = {2021}, month = {06/2021}, abstract = {

Important findings from the second decade of the 21st century on the impact of environmental change on biological processes in the Antarctic were synthesised by 26 international experts. Ten key messages emerged that have stakeholder-relevance and/or a high impact for the scientific community. They address (i) altered biogeochemical cycles, (ii) ocean acidification, (iii) climate change hotspots, (iv) unexpected dynamism in seabed-dwelling populations, (v) spatial range shifts, (vi) adaptation and thermal resilience, (vii) sea ice related biological fluctuations, (viii) pollution, (ix) endangered terrestrial endemism and (x) the discovery of unknown habitats. Most Antarctic biotas are exposed to multiple stresses and considered vulnerable to environmental change due to narrow tolerance ranges, rapid change, projected circumpolar impacts, low potential for timely genetic adaptation, and migration barriers. Important ecosystem functions, such as primary production and energy transfer between trophic levels, have already changed, and biodiversity patterns have shifted. A confidence assessment of the degree of \‘scientific understanding\’ revealed an intermediate level for most of the more detailed sub-messages, indicating that process-oriented research has been successful in the past decade. Additional efforts are necessary, however, to achieve the level of robustness in scientific knowledge that is required to inform protection measures of the unique Antarctic terrestrial and marine ecosystems, and their contributions to global biodiversity and ecosystem services.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM, adaptation, benthic dynamism, biogeochemical cycles, climate change, invasion, new habitats, ocean acidification, Primary production, range shifts, sea ice}, doi = {10.1111/brv.12679}, url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/brv.12679}, author = {Gutt, Julian and Isla, Enrique and Xavier, Jos{\'e} C. and Adams, Byron J. and Ahn, In-Young and Cheng, C.-H. Christina and Colesie, Claudia and Cummings, Vonda J. and di Prisco, Guido and Griffiths, Huw J. and Ian Hawes and Hogg, Ian D. and McIntyre, Trevor and Meiners, Klaus M. and Pearce, David A. and Lloyd S. Peck and Piepenburg, Dieter and Reisinger, Ryan R. and Saba, Grace and Schloss, Irene R. and Signori, Camila N. and Smith, Craig R. and Vacchi, Marino and Verde, Cinzia and Diana H. Wall} }