Changes in the Antarctic sea ice ecosystem: potential effects on krill and baleen whales

• Published in: Marine and Freshwater Research
• Main Authors: Nicol, S, Worby, A, Leaper, R
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: C S I R O Publishing 2008
• Subjects: Environmental Sciences; Ecological Applications; Ecological Impacts of Climate Change; Antarctic; Southern Ocean; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Antarctic Krill; baleen whales; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://www.publish.csiro.au; https://doi.org/10.1071/MF07161; http://ecite.utas.edu.au/70553

The annual formation and loss of some 15 million km 2 of sea ice around the Antarctic significantly affectsglobal ocean circulation, particularly through the formation of dense bottom water.As one of the most profound seasonalchanges on Earth, the formation and decay of sea ice plays a major role in climate processes. It is also likely to be impactedby climate change, potentially changing the productivity of the Antarctic region. The sea ice zone supports much wildlife,particularly large vertebrates such as seals, seabirds and whales, some exploited to near extinction. Cetacean species inthe Southern Ocean will be directly impacted by changes in sea ice patterns as well as indirectly by changes in theirprincipal prey, Antarctic krill, affected by modifications to their own environment through climate change. Understandinghow climate change will affect species at all trophic levels in the Southern Ocean requires new approaches and integratedresearch programs. This review focuses on the current state of knowledge of the sea ice zone and examines the potentialfor climatic and ecological change in the region. In the context of changes already documented for seals and seabirds, itdiscusses potential effects on the most conspicuous vertebrate of the region, baleen whales.