Antarctic biogeography revisited: updating the Antarctic Conservation Biogeographic Regions

• Published in: Diversity and Distributions
• Main Authors: Terauds, Aleks, Lee, Jasmine R.
• Other Authors: Heikkinen, Risto
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2016
• Subjects: Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ddi.12453; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fddi.12453; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/ddi.12453

Abstract The Antarctic Conservation Biogeographic Regions ( ACBR s), originally proposed in 2012, are now established as an important tool in Antarctic science, conservation, management and policy. Here, we provide a revised version of the ACBR s, reflecting updates in underlying spatial layers, together with the results of new analyses justifying the inclusion of a 16th bioregion. This updated version now covers all ice‐free areas of Antarctica and is publicly available through the Australian Antarctic Data Centre. In light of the interest in the ACBR s across a variety of research fields, we also provide a new set of summary statistics for the updated spatial layer, including landscape metrics, climate data, protected area coverage and an overview of human activity. The updated ACBR s represent a contemporary, practical and evidence‐based foundation for understanding, conserving and managing Antarctic biodiversity at a continental scale.