Threat management priorities for conserving Antarctic biodiversity.

• Published in: PLOS Biology
• Main Authors: Lee, Jasmine R, Terauds, Aleks, Carwardine, Josie, Shaw, Justine D, Fuller, Richard A, Possingham, Hugh P, Chown, Steven L, Convey, Peter, Gilbert, Neil, Hughes, Kevin A, McIvor, Ewan, Robinson, Sharon A, Ropert-Coudert, Yan, Bergstrom, Dana M, Biersma, Elisabeth M, Christian, Claire, Cowan, Don A, Frenot, Yves, Jenouvrier, Stéphanie, Kelley, Lisa, Lee, Michael J, Lynch, Heather J, Njåstad, Birgit, Quesada, Antonio, Roura, Ricardo M, Shaw, E Ashley, Stanwell-Smith, Damon, Tsujimoto, Megumu, Wall, Diana H, Wilmotte, Annick, Chadès, Iadine
• Other Authors: InBios - Integrative Biological Sciences - ULiège
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: NLM (Medline) 2022
• Subjects: Animals; Humans; Antarctic Regions; Biodiversity; Introduced Species; Climate Change; Ecosystem; Conservation of Natural Resources; Agricultural and Biological Sciences (all); Life sciences; Environmental sciences & ecology; Microbiology; Phytobiology (plant sciences; forestry; mycology.); Sciences du vivant; Sciences de l’environnement & écologie; Microbiologie; Biologie végétale (sciences végétales; sylviculture; mycologie.); Antarctic; Antarc*; Emperor penguins
• Online Access: https://orbi.uliege.be/handle/2268/298113; https://orbi.uliege.be/bitstream/2268/298113/1/ThreatManagementPrioritiesConservingAntarcticBiodiversityLeePLOSB22.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001921

peer reviewed Antarctic terrestrial biodiversity faces multiple threats, from invasive species to climate change. Yet no large-scale assessments of threat management strategies exist. Applying a structured participatory approach, we demonstrate that existing conservation efforts are insufficient in a changing world, estimating that 65% (at best 37%, at worst 97%) of native terrestrial taxa and land-associated seabirds are likely to decline by 2100 under current trajectories. Emperor penguins are identified as the most vulnerable taxon, followed by other seabirds and dry soil nematodes. We find that implementing 10 key threat management strategies in parallel, at an estimated present-day equivalent annual cost of US$23 million, could benefit up to 84% of Antarctic taxa. Climate change is identified as the most pervasive threat to Antarctic biodiversity and influencing global policy to effectively limit climate change is the most beneficial conservation strategy. However, minimising impacts of human activities and improved planning and management of new infrastructure projects are cost-effective and will help to minimise regional threats. Simultaneous global and regional efforts are critical to secure Antarctic biodiversity for future generations. SCAR Workshop Priority Threat Management; Australian Antarctic Science Program; Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship 13. Climate action 15. Life on land 14. Life below water