02315nas a2200265   4500008004100000245009400041210006900135260001200204520148400216653001501700653001701715653002601732653001901758653001701777653001301794653002301807100002101830700002601851700002201877700002401899700002301923700002001946700002501966856005801991       2022                        eng d00aIslands in the ice: Potential impacts of habitat transformation on Antarctic biodiversity0 aIslands in the ice Potential impacts of habitat transformation o  c07/20223 a<p>Antarctic biodiversity faces an unknown future with a changing climate. Most terrestrial biota is restricted to limited patches of ice-free land in a sea of ice, where they are adapted to the continent&#39;s extreme cold and wind and exploit microhabitats of suitable conditions. As temperatures rise, ice-free areas are predicted to expand, more rapidly in some areas than others. There is high uncertainty as to how species&#39; distributions, physiology, abundance, and survivorship will be affected as their habitats transform. Here we use current knowledge to propose hypotheses that ice-free area expansion (i) will increase habitat availability, though the quality of habitat will vary; (ii) will increase structural connectivity, although not necessarily increase opportunities for species establishment; (iii) combined with milder climates will increase likelihood of non-native species establishment, but may also lengthen activity windows for all species; and (iv) will benefit some species and not others, possibly resulting in increased homogeneity of biodiversity. We anticipate considerable spatial, temporal, and taxonomic variation in species responses, and a heightened need for interdisciplinary research to understand the factors associated with ecosystem resilience under future scenarios. Such research will help identify at-risk species or vulnerable localities and is crucial for informing environmental management and policymaking into the future.</p>10aAntarctica10abiodiversity10abiotic homogenization10aclimate change10aconnectivity10aice-free10anon-native species1 aLee, Jasmine, R.1 aWaterman, Melinda, J.1 aShaw, Justine, D.1 aBergstrom, Dana, M.1 aLynch, Heather, J.1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aRobinson, Sharon, A.  uhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcb.16331