Climate change affects life on the Antarctic Peninsula

Antarctica has long been thought to be one of the fastest warming locations on Earth. A new study using satellite data shows that climate change not only affects penguins that lie on the top of the food chain, but at the same time affects microbial life, the foundation of ecology.

Research by scientists from the National Science Foundation's LTER (Ecological Research) program is published in the journal Science. The LTER program, with 26 locations across the globe, includes two locations in Antarctica, allowing monitoring of ecological changes over time, from which scientists can understand the mechanisms of action of Climate change for ecosystems. Specific findings are made based on data from Palmer Station and research vessel Laurence M. Gould. Both Palmer Station and Laurence M. Gould are run by the NSF Polar Program Office.

Hugh Ducklow, of the Marie Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, a researcher for the Palmer LTER project, knows new findings that have important scientific significance, and are consistent with regional weather trends. extreme as well as other changes.

However, new scientific tools and analysis by postdoctoral researcher Martin Montes Hugo are needed to re-examine what scientists have concluded.

Ducklow said: 'I have to say that these findings are not a surprise. From the other observations we have about changes to the top of the food chain, we have suspected that plankton are also affected by climate change. But only with Martin do we have the necessary tools and the ability to analyze and prove those predictions. '

Data is collected for many years, necessary to detect the cycles for new findings.

He added: 'That's the highlight of LTER'.

Over the past 50 years, winter temperatures in Antarctica have increased five times faster than the global average and the coverage of sea ice has decreased. The warm and humid climate has moved north of the peninsula.

Rapid climate change in Antarctica affects the basic foundation of the food chain. (Photo: Zina Deretsky / NSF)

Therefore, sea-based species, such as Adelie penguins, Antarctic silver and mollusks, have diminished in the northern part of the peninsula, and creatures that normally avoid ice, like bird wings cut Gentoo. and Chinstrap is moving into this area.

LTER researchers say satellite data about color, temperature, ice and sea breeze show that plankton at the bottom of the food chain are also responding to changes in sea ice cover and wind. However, there are conflicting changes in the northern and southern regions, and satellite and ground data provide insight into climate change mechanisms in each region.

Researchers are not surprised that the peninsula's productivity in the sea has changed dramatically over the past 20 years. However, the opposite change in the northern and southern areas is a surprise.

In the north, where ice-dependent organisms are gradually disappearing, the cover of the ice decreases and the wind pressure increases. This leads to a larger blend of sea surface . The result is a deeper surface mixing layer that reduces the efficiency ratio and causes plankton to change, as plankton are exposed to less light.

In contrast, in the southern peninsula, ice-dependent species continue to grow, the situation is completely reversed. Sea ice decreases in areas previously covered with ice all year round. Therefore, the amount of water exposed to light increases and promotes the growth of plankton. The reduced amount of ice combined with lower wind pressure, stimulates the formation of a more shallow blend of water, with more light and the development of larger plankton species, such as diatoms. Diatoms, unicellular organisms, are the foundation of the rich food chain in Antarctica, including krill, penguins and whales.

Refer:
Montes-Hugo et al.Recent Changes in Phytoplankton Communities Associated with Rapid Regional Climate Change Along the Western Antarctic Peninsula.Science, March 13, 2009;323 (5920): 1470 DOI: 10.1126 / science.1164533