The study published this Monday (4) in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science raises alarming questions about the future of the Antarctic ecosystem. Researchers are exploring the possibility of invasive coastal species establishing themselves on the frozen continent due to the increase in polynyas, areas of open water amid the ice.
This prospect is worrying, as it represents a potential threat to Antarctica’s native ecosystems. The researcher Ceridwen Fraser points out that non-native animals and plants can now arrive in the region, but are prevented from establishing themselves due to the presence of coastal ice. However, as ice melts and pollinia increases, these invasive species may find a more favorable environment to establish themselves.
The increase in polynyas is attributed, in part, to rising global temperatures, highlighting the worrying impacts of climate change on Antarctica. Additionally, the researchers identified a cyclical pattern of polynya growth and decline every approximately 16 years, which suggests additional complexity in Antarctic ecosystem changes.
Grant Duffy, one of the researchers involved, recognizes the serious ecological implications of these findings, indicating that there are still many uncertainties about what drives this cyclical pattern. However, the possibility of significant disruption to Antarctica’s native coastal ecosystems is a central concern highlighted by this critical study.
Source: Atrevida
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