Numerous non-native and invasive marine creatures are attacking Antarctica’s white continent, as different types of pollutants continue to drift toward the region, threatening its unique ecosystem.
According to a new study, floating debris originating from different parts of the world, particularly from countries located in the Southern Hemisphere, is reaching Antarctica at a rapid pace and also bringing non-native marine species with it that endanger the existing local marine life.
Apart from the nearby islands, these pollutants are generally coming from far-off regions like South America, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand.
The floating objects drifting towards Antarctica, such as kelp rafts, plastic debris, driftwood, and pumice, serve as “rafting vectors” for non-native species that reach Antarctic waters. The arrival of these species can disrupt the unique and isolated marine environment by outcompeting native organisms, altering food chains, and introducing diseases.
As global temperatures rise and ice barriers diminish, the likelihood of these invasive species establishing themselves in Antarctica increases, which further threatens the stability and biodiversity of the region’s ecosystems.
Environmental researcher Kevin Hughes stated that historically, life in Antarctica has remained isolated from the rest of the world, which means that their native species are not used to competing for limited resources. This means, Hughes continued, these species can eventually perish by the invaders, which are usually migrating from highly competitive environments.
Hughes indicated that the implications of this invasion will not be limited to Antarctica only but are likely to impact the whole world, as the continent usually serves as a “natural laboratory” for scientific experiments that end up benefiting all of us. If Antarctica’s natural marine ecosystems are disturbed by non-native species, it will ultimately make the region unfeasible for many such experiments, Hughes added.
Hannah Dawson, the primary author of the study, led this research at Australia’s University of South Wales, where a team of researchers used the existing oceanographic models and studied the debris movement alongside the historical patterns of ocean currents from the last 19 years to reach conclusions.
Climate change, in general, which is forcing Antarctica to melt, is also contributing to this migration as ice barriers are likely to stop the invading species otherwise. From 2002 to 2023, Antarctica lost 150 billion metric tons of ice every year on average.
This melting ice also means that Antarctica’s temperatures are drastically decreasing, which increases the possibility that the invading species will survive and colonize the waters, Hughes concluded.
