Is the Southern Ocean ecosystem primed for change or at the cliff edge?

The Southern Ocean is experiencing unprecedented environmental risks and consequences from current climate change. It is unclear how the benthic fauna, which has largely evolved in isolation, will respond to future changes. Knowing how the benthic fauna persisted through repeated extreme glacial–int...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Global Change Biology
Main Authors: Lau, Sally C.Y., Strugnell, Jan M.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:unknown
Published: Blackwell Publishing 2022
Subjects:
Online Access:https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/76469/1/76469.pdf
Description
Summary:The Southern Ocean is experiencing unprecedented environmental risks and consequences from current climate change. It is unclear how the benthic fauna, which has largely evolved in isolation, will respond to future changes. Knowing how the benthic fauna persisted through repeated extreme glacial–interglacial cycles in the past provides a unique opportunity to inform future predictions. Right now, understanding and preserving current genetic diversity and connectivity between populations will give species the best chance to adapt.