PARIS: The Antarctic and Southern oceans are teeming with life, yet protection measures are weak as the continent faces increased threats from fishing, tourism and science programs, according to a report by scientists reviewing recent studies.
The lead author of the report published in the journal Nature, Professor Steven Chown of Monash University, characterised the biodiversity outlook for Antarctica and the Southern Ocean as being “no better than that for the rest of the globe”, despite its relative isolation.
The Antarctic marine system hosts more than 8,000 different species, with 50-90% of the species endemic to the region, including sea spiders, isopods and the wandering albatross. On land, there was a “massive diversity” of viruses living in bodies of freshwater and an “extremely well-developed microbial community”.
“Most people think of the continent as a vast, icy waste, and the sea as uniformly populated by whales, seals and penguins,” Chown said. “But that’s simply not true.
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