Scientists identify key Antarctic conservation sites

More than 120 years after the first Antarctic research base was established on Antarctica, scientists have identified 30 areas critical for conserving biodiversity in the Southern Ocean surrounding the frozen continent.

In the research, published in the journal Conservation Biology, the authors warn that greater limitations on human activity in the area are needed to protect native wildlife from significant population declines.

“Many animals are only found in the Southern Ocean, and they all play an important role in its ecosystem,” says senior author Cassandra Brooks from the University of Colorado Boulder (CUB). “While Antarctica and the Southern Ocean feel really far away, they – and the life within them – are critical to the functioning of Earth systems.”

Among the animals that call the Southern Ocean home are Adélie penguins, Weddell seals and humpback whales.

“Despite the planet being in the midst of a mass extinction, the Southern Ocean in Antarctica is one of the few places in the world that hasn’t had any known species go extinct,” says first author Sarah Becker, also at CUB.

But this is beginning to change as seas and the global climate warm.

The Southern Ocean – once protected by its frigidity and sea ice – is now seeing an influx of fishing and tourism.

Using existing tracking data for 13 different species of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic seabirds and seals, the researchers identified 30 Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) in the Southern Ocean. The sites are marine habitats critical for foraging, breeding and migration.

Previous large-scale conservation zone identification work grouped species to look for areas important for more than one type of animal. While this approach is important, it can overlook areas crucial for particular species.

“Our study bridges the gap between the broad-scale perspective and the specific needs of individual populations, adding an important layer of detail,” Becker says.

The findings can provide a framework for limiting human impact on species populations, the authors say.

“By reducing fishing or tourism interactions in these key biodiversity areas, we can potentially give these animals the best chance of adapting and becoming resilient to climate change,” Brooks explains.