Threat management priorities for conserving Antarctic biodiversity

• Published in: PLOS Biology
• Main Authors: Lee, Jasmine R., Quesada del Corral, Antonio
• Other Authors: UAM. Departamento de Biología
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Public Library of Science 2023
• Subjects: Antarctic Regions; Biodiversity; Climate Change; Conservation of Natural Resources; Ecosystem; Spheniscidae; Biología y Biomedicina / Biología; Antarctic; East Antarctica; Elevado; Antarc*; Antarctica; British Antarctic Survey; Emperor penguins; SCAR; Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10486/707441; https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001921

Artículo escrito por un elevado número de autores, solo se referencian el que aparece en primer lugar, el nombre del grupo de colaboración, si le hubiere, y los autores pertenecientes a la UAM 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 This project was supported by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), who provided support for the meeting, and by the Australian Antarctic Science Program (projects 4296, 4297 and Integrated Digital East Antarctica - IDEA). J.L. was supported by the Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment – Equity Trustees Charitable Foundation, an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship, and a Research Fellowship from The Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851. P.C., K.H. and E.B. are supported by NERC core funding to the British Antarctic Survey ‘Biodiversity, ...