The research ship 'Ernest Shackleton' is at the South Pole. Credit: Lloyd.
The authors of a new study say that marine life hitching a ride on ocean-crossing ships poses a threat to Antarctica's pristine ecosystems, with the potential for invaders to arrive from almost anywhere across the globe.
The University of Cambridge and the British Antarctic Survey have collaborated on a research project. It shows that all regions of the globe are connected by an extensive network of ship activity. Fishing, tourism, research and supply ships are exposing Antarctica to non-native species that threaten the stability of its pristine environment.
The study is in a journal.
The researchers found 1,581 ports that could be a potential source of non-native species. The species attach themselves to the ships' hull in a process called biofouling. The finding suggests that they could arrive in the ocean from anywhere in the world.
native species have been isolated for the last 30 million years due to invaders. The report's senior author said that they may have economic impacts via the disruption of the fisheries.
A ship that traveled to the polar regions and visited the acorn barnacles, green algae, and caprellid amphipods had some bad stuff on it. Credit: Arlie McCarthy.
The scientists are concerned about the movement of species. These species are already cold-adapted, and may make the journey on tourist or research ships that spend the summer in the Arctic before traveling across the Atlantic for the summer season.
The species that grow on the hull of a ship are determined by where it has been. Arlie McCarthy, a researcher in the University of Cambridge's Department of Zoology and the British Antarctic Survey, was the first author of the report.
Research vessels stayed at the ports for longer than tourists. Fishing and supply ships stay longer. Longer stays increase the likelihood of non-native species being introduced.
There are many groups of species that have not evolved the ability to tolerate the remote location of the island. If there is an accidental introduction of muls, they can grow on the hull of ships and there are no competitors in the area. Shallow-water crabs would introduce a new type of predator to the animals.
We were surprised to find that the world is connected to theAntarctica. McCarthy said that the results show that the measures need to be implemented at a wider range of locations.
The Carcinus maenas was found on a ship that traveled to the polar regions. Credit: Arlie McCarthy.
There are strict regulations in place for preventing non-native species from entering the country, but the success of these depends on having the information to inform management decisions. We hope that our findings will help detect invaders before they become a problem.
The study combined verified port call data with satellite observations of ship activity south of -60 latitude. The vessels were most frequently found to sail between the southern and western Pacific Ocean.
The most isolated marine environment on Earth is the Southern Ocean. It supports a unique mix of plants and animals, and is the only global marine region without any known invaders. The threat of non-native species being accidentally introduced is escalating due to increasing ship activity.
The southern oceans could be disrupted by invaders. A major component of the fish food used in the global aquaculture industry is krill oil, which is sold as a supplement.
Cleaning ships' hull is one of the ways that biosecurity measures to protect Antarctica are focused on. Professor Lloyd Peck, a researcher at the British Antarctic Survey, said that the new findings call for improved protocols to protect the waters from non-native species as ocean temperatures continue to rise due to climate change.
More information about the link between ship traffic and the world's ecosystems.
The National Academy of Sciences has a journal.
The news of an Invasive species on tourist and research ships was retrieved on January 10, 2022, fromphys.org.
The document is copyrighted. Any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research cannot be reproduced without written permission. The content is not intended to be used for anything other than information purposes.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
