Palaeoecological changes in populations of Antarctic ice-dependent predators and their environmental drivers ...

• Main Author: Younger, Jane
• Format: Thesis
• Language: unknown
• Published: University Of Tasmania 2023
• Subjects: Antarctic; Southern Ocean; The Antarctic; Weddell; Adelie penguin; Antarc*; Aptenodytes forsteri; Pygoscelis adeliae; Sea ice; Weddell Seal
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.25959/23239850; https://figshare.utas.edu.au/articles/thesis/Palaeoecological_changes_in_populations_of_Antarctic_ice-dependent_predators_and_their_environmental_drivers/23239850

The Southern Ocean is undergoing rapid physical and biological changes that are likely to have profound implications for Antarctic fauna. One such change is a projected decline in the extent of the Antarctic sea ice field by the end of the century, and an associated shortening of the sea ice season. Fauna that are dependent on Antarctic sea ice for breeding or foraging habitat are likely to be vulnerable to climate change. The Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) and emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) both use Antarctic sea ice as a breeding platform, while the Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) breeds on ice-free ground, but forages largely within the sea ice zone. In order to develop successful conservation plans for such at-risk taxa, an understanding of the likely impacts of climate change is essential. As the changes currently underway in the Southern Ocean represent a long-term, environmental regime shift (as opposed to a short-term fluctuation), it is prudent to consider the responses of ...