In addition to making the arctic ocean more habitable for invasive species, warmer waters will also lead to an increase in ship traffic through the. Some invaders hitchhike on ship hulls or inside ballast tanks, others are introduced through the aquarium trade. The cultural icescapes of the arctic the inupiaq people of alaska have more than 100 words for different kinds of sea ice, illustrated here. The implementation plan for the national strategy for the arctic region directs the federal government to develop, implement, and maintain an international invasive species prevention and management plan. Kelly and his colleagues suggested that at least 22 arctic marine mammals many of them already threatened or endangered are at risk from hybridization. Arctic ocean could see more invasive species as waters. The marine ecosystems of this polar region are directly affected by all these disturbances. Towards arctic resource governance of marine invasive species melina kourantidou, brooks a. A pair of smithsonian marine biologists argue that a warming arctic puts the area at risk for inviting invasive species an oil tanker makes its way to valdez, alaska. Arctic ocean, invasive species, transported by vessels, will also risk impacts. Ocean species mix as sea ice melts, with unknown consequences.
The actions take environmental, cultural, and economic perspectives into consideration. In october 20, a group of multidisciplinary experts on marine invasive species and the arctic came together in esbjerg, dk for a twoday workshop titled. Arctic at risk from invasive species arctic deeply news deeply. Invasive species are still rare in the arctic but that. We bring together experts on invasive species, marine resource management, and the arctic with the purpose of preparing casestudies from the nordic countries and to discuss continuing applicable research. As summer sea ice recedes and resource development grows, the number of ships in the arctic may well increase and bring with them nonnative aquatic species. Arctic marine ecosystems are among the most productive and most vulnerable in the world, both from an economic and. Towards arctic resource governance of marine invasive species 175 melina kourantidou, brooks a. This special issue of temanord presents papers from a workshop devoted to this topic. Ocean species mix as arctic sea ice melts, with unknown. Invasive marine species discovered on nonnative kelp rafts in the warmest antarctic island. Arctic marine biodiversity and invasive alien species. Drifting algae in the austral ocean can bring invasive species to the antarctic coasts. However, there is a solution and is called antifouling.
A pair of smithsonian marine biologists argue that a warming arctic puts the area at risk for inviting invasive species. Arctic at risk from invasive species the ecologist. Arctic invasive alien species strategy and action plan u. Biodiversity impact invasive species invasion success marine. The state of the arctic marine biodiversity report sambr is a synthesis of the state of knowledge about biodiversity in arctic marine ecosystems, detectable changes, and important gaps in our ability to assess state and trends in biodiversity across six focal ecosystem components fecs.
Arctic invasive alien species executive order 112 calls for both ecosystemlevel coordination and international cooperation. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading marine invasive species in the arctic temanord book 547. Arctic ocean could see more invasive species as waters warm. Warming arctic brings invasion of southern species yale environment 360. Ved stranden 18 marine invasive species in the arctic. Recently, the management of the marine invasive alien species introduced by ballast water has come to the core as an urgent task. Marine invasive species in the arctic temanord book 547. Large boats have tanks in their hulls that are filled with seawater to counterbalance cargo weight. A female walrus and her calf isavgalik rest on ice nunavait in the midst of scattered pack ice tamalaaniqtuaq, interspersed with patches of calm flat water quuniq. Marine invasive species in the arctic temanord book 547 kindle edition by council of ministers, nordic. The first potentially invasive species to reach the antarctica on. Climate change draws invasive species to the arctic sciencenordic. In the past halfdecade, says wassmann, there has been atlantic cod in fishable amounts north of svalbard, which had not been observed before.
In fact, our recent study showed that blue mussels have become much more common in the arctic in recent years, just like other exotic species of bluefin tuna and killer whales. Arctic marine ecosystems are among the most productive and. There are currently no records of successfully established invasive marine animal species within the southern ocean. Marine invasive species in the arctic nordic council of ministers. Arctic marine ecosystems are among the most productive and most vulnerable in the world, both from an economic and ecological perspective of growing accessibility. Yet, the knowledge base needed to identify gaps and priorities for nis research and management is limited. Warming arctic brings invasion of southern species. In the 1960s, the soviet union, seeking to increase the productivity of the barents sea, began a program of releasing the species, a native of the pacific ocean, into the waters off the kola peninsula. The bestknown instance of invasive species in the arctic is perhaps the red king crab. Wwf is working with partners to protect marine resources from the threat of shipwrecks and related oil spills, invasive species, ship strikes, and pollution. Invasive species also hitch rides on the outside of ship hulls and on the millions of tons of plastics and other trash that floats around the globe in ocean currents.
Arctic at risk from invasive species invasive species. Understanding the success of marine invasive species springerlink. During a ships lifetime microorganisms, plants, algae, or animals will gather in its hull, during a process called biofouling. The arctic invasive alien species arias strategy and action plan, produced by caff and the protection of the arctic marine environment pame sets forth the priority actions that the arctic council and its partners are encouraged to take to protect the arctic region from a significant threat. Chapters arctic biodiversity, conservation of arctic. This is because invasive species in other habitats such as the ocean have been largely catered for in. Marine invasive species in the arctic ved stranden 18 dk1061 copenhagen k. Once established, invasive marine species are notoriously difficult to eradicate, said ware. Fernandez scientific and policyoriented publications highlighting the magnitude of uncertainty in the changing arctic and the possibilities for effective regional governance are proliferating, yet it remains a challenging task to. Syddansk universitet towards arctic resource governance of. Hazardous organisms also negatively affect fisheries, commercial shipping activities, and marine resources. Although the species is recorded as far north as northern scandinavia in the arctic. An uncertain future for the arctic ocean explore to understand.
Almost lost in the current debate about arctic hybridization and invasive species from the south is that some. Chapter listing of the arctic biodiversity assessment aba, a report containing the best available science informed by traditional ecological knowledge on the status and trends of arctic biodiversity and accompanying policy recommendations for biodiversity conservation. Our results are published in the journal marine ecologyprogress series. However they move, invasive species can alter ecosystems, food webs, and economies. Arctic at risk from invasive species as the arctic ice melts, new shipping routes are opening up for tourism, mining and other commercial purposes, cutting journey times and fuel costs. Marine invasive species in the arctic published on aug 18, 2014 arctic marine ecosystems are among the most productive and most vulnerable in the world, both from an economic and ecological. The arctic ocean is often presented by scientists as one of the ecosystems. These priority actions span terrestrial, aquatic, and marine ecosystems. As the arctic sea ice diminishes, shipping through the bering strait region will increase. Invasive marine species discovered on nonnative kelp.
The cold waters have long prevented invasive species from establishing themselves in. Understanding the success of marine invasive species, of this book. An invasive species is a species not native to a particular location which can spread to a degree that causes damage to the environment, human economy or human health. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading marine invasive species in the arctic temanord book. Buoyed by atlantic intrusions, warm water species are spreading northeast into the arctic ocean, and resident coldadapted species, such as arctic cod, are attempting to retreat further north.
Most marine invasive species stow away in ship ballast. Arctic at risk from invasive species arctic deeply. Download arctic invasive alien species strategy and action plan the implementation plan for the national strategy for the arctic region directs the federal government to develop, implement, and maintain an international invasive species prevention and management plan. Arctic marine ecosystems are among the most productive and most vulnerable in the world. Its widely considered a keystone species because they control sea urchin populations that would damage the ecosystem. Together, we create sciencebased solutions for a healthy ocean. Example of matters related to antifouling systems taken into consideration by some icegoing ships this table is used by some operators of icegoing.
Issues and challenges in resource governance and monitoring of societal. Towards arctic resource governance of marine invasive species. Climate change draws invasive species to the arctic. The committee for environmental protection cep has been discussing the issue and has recently declared this issue of the highest priority. There have been several reports of either adults or larvae of alien animals at antarctic coastal localities e. Reference is made in particular to the 2011 guidelines for the control and management of ships biofouling to minimize the transfer of invasive aquatic species resolution mepc. The smithsonian environmental research centers marine invasions lab travels. Penguins, ice caps, and arctic monitors scientific stations that track ecological changes increasingly survive on barebones budgets. The cold waters have long prevented invasive species from establishing themselves in the arctic after being released in a ships ballast water, but this will change as the ocean gets warmer. Because, hazardous organisms cause harmful effects on the ecosystem. Climate change opens new frontiers for marine species in. They prey on marine invertebrates, remarkably using rocks as tools to open shells.
The nisc secretariat is currently working with international partners to develop the arctic invasive alien species arias. Grizzly bears mating with polar bears and exotic diseases making their. Assessing the global threat of invasive species to marine biodiversity. One of our favorite arctic animals, this adorable but endangered species can walk on land but spends most of its time in the water. Pdf arctic marine ecosystems are among the most productive and most vulnerable in the world. The rapid changes in the arctic marine ecosystems related to climate. Ocean conservancy is working with you to protect the ocean from todays greatest global challenges. Pdf marine invasive species in the arctic researchgate. These organisms, known as invasive aquatic species, can negatively affect a ships operation, while they also present a threat to the marine environment. And as christopher ware reports, a new danger arises invasive alien species disrupting fragile arctic ecosystems. Small canids and small mammals are the european red foxs prey and due to.