Invasive species traveling on ships are threatening Antarctica’s unique ecosystems

New research from the University of Cambridge and the British Antarctic Survey tracks the global movements of all ships entering Antarctic waters. It shows that Antarctica is connected to all regions of the world through an extensive network of ship movements. Fishing, tourism, research and supply vessels expose Antarctica to invasive non-native species that threaten the stability of its pristine environment.

This research was published in "PNAS" on January 10, local time.

It is reported that researchers have identified 1,581 ports with connections to Antarctica, and say that all ports may become potential sources of non-native species. These species - including mussels, barnacles, crabs and algae - attach themselves to the hull in a process known as "biofouling." The discovery shows they can reach Antarctic waters from almost anywhere on the globe.

"Invasive non-native species are one of the greatest threats to Antarctica's biodiversity - from which native species have been isolated for the past 15-30 million years," said the study's senior author Professor David Aldridge, from the Department of Zoology at the University of Cambridge, said: "They may also have an economic impact by damaging fisheries."

"The species that grow on the hulls are determined by where they have been. We found that fishing vessels operating in Antarctic waters visit a fairly limited network of ports, but tourist and supply vessels travel around the world," said Arlie McCarthy, a researcher at the University of Cambridge's Department of Zoology and the British Antarctic Survey. He is the lead author of the study.

Research vessels have been found to spend more time in Antarctic ports than tourist captains, while fishing vessels and supply vessels stay even longer on average. Previous research has shown that longer residence times increase the likelihood of non-native species being introduced.

Due to its remote, isolated location, there are many species groups that Antarctic wildlife has not evolved the ability to tolerate. For example, mussels can grow on ship hulls, and if they were accidentally introduced to Antarctica, they would currently have no competition there. Shallow-water crabs would introduce a new form of prey that Antarctic animals have never encountered before.

"We were surprised to find that Antarctica is much more globally connected than previously thought," McCarthy noted. "Our results suggest that biosecurity measures need to be implemented across a wider range of locations than currently possible."

Additionally, she added: "There are now strict regulations to prevent non-native species from entering Antarctica, but the success of these regulations depends on having information to inform management decisions. We hope our findings will improve The new study combines verified port call data with raw satellite observations of ship activity south of 60 degrees latitude from 2014 to 2018. combined. The data shows that ships sail most frequently between Antarctica and ports in southern South America, Northern Europe and the Western Pacific.

The Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica is the most isolated marine environment on Earth. It supports a unique mix of plants and animals and is the only marine area in the world free of any known invasive species. Increasing vessel activity in this area can escalate the threat of accidental introduction of non-native species.

The Antarctic ocean's large krill fisheries could also be disrupted by invasive species arriving by boat. Krill is a major component of fish food used in the global aquaculture industry, and krill oil is widely marketed as a dietary supplement.

"Biosecurity measures to protect Antarctica such as cleaning ship hulls are currently concentrated in a small group of recognized 'gateway ports'. "With these new findings, we Calls for improved biosecurity protocols and environmental protection measures to protect Antarctic waters from non-native species, especially as ocean temperatures continue to rise due to climate change. "It is reported that Professor Peck participated in this research.