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Tracking of marine predators to protect Southern Ocean ecosystems

Author

Listed:
  • Mark A. Hindell

    (University of Tasmania
    University of Tasmania)

  • Ryan R. Reisinger

    (Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, Station d’Écologie de Chizé-La Rochelle Université, CNRS UMR7372
    CESAB-FRB, Institut Bouisson Bertrand
    LOCEAN/IPSL, Sorbonne Université-CNRS-IRD-MNHN, UMR7159)

  • Yan Ropert-Coudert

    (Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, Station d’Écologie de Chizé-La Rochelle Université, CNRS UMR7372)

  • Luis A. Hückstädt

    (University of California Santa Cruz)

  • Philip N. Trathan

    (Natural Environment Research Council)

  • Horst Bornemann

    (Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung)

  • Jean-Benoît Charrassin

    (LOCEAN/IPSL, Sorbonne Université-CNRS-IRD-MNHN, UMR7159)

  • Steven L. Chown

    (Monash University)

  • Daniel P. Costa

    (University of California Santa Cruz)

  • Bruno Danis

    (Université Libre de Bruxelles)

  • Mary-Anne Lea

    (University of Tasmania
    University of Tasmania)

  • David Thompson

    (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research)

  • Leigh G. Torres

    (Oregon State University)

  • Anton P. Putte

    (BEDIC, OD Nature, Royal Belgian Institute for Natural Sciences
    University of Leuven)

  • Rachael Alderman

    (Water and Environment)

  • Virginia Andrews-Goff

    (University of Tasmania
    Water and the Environment)

  • Ben Arthur

    (University of Tasmania)

  • Grant Ballard

    (Point Blue Conservation Science)

  • John Bengtson

    (NOAA Fisheries)

  • Marthán N. Bester

    (University of Pretoria)

  • Arnoldus Schytte Blix

    (UiT-The Arctic University of Norway)

  • Lars Boehme

    (Scottish Oceans Institute)

  • Charles-André Bost

    (Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, Station d’Écologie de Chizé-La Rochelle Université, CNRS UMR7372)

  • Peter Boveng

    (NOAA Fisheries)

  • Jaimie Cleeland

    (University of Tasmania)

  • Rochelle Constantine

    (University of Auckland)

  • Stuart Corney

    (University of Tasmania)

  • Robert J. M. Crawford

    (Agriculture and Fisheries)

  • Luciano Dalla Rosa

    (Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande)

  • P. J. Nico Bruyn

    (University of Pretoria)

  • Karine Delord

    (Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, Station d’Écologie de Chizé-La Rochelle Université, CNRS UMR7372)

  • Sébastien Descamps

    (Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre)

  • Mike Double

    (Water and the Environment)

  • Louise Emmerson

    (Water and the Environment)

  • Mike Fedak

    (Scottish Oceans Institute)

  • Ari Friedlaender

    (University of California Santa Cruz
    University of California Santa Cruz)

  • Nick Gales

    (Water and the Environment)

  • Michael E. Goebel

    (University of California Santa Cruz)

  • Kimberly T. Goetz

    (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research)

  • Christophe Guinet

    (Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, Station d’Écologie de Chizé-La Rochelle Université, CNRS UMR7372)

  • Simon D. Goldsworthy

    (West Beach)

  • Rob Harcourt

    (Macquarie University)

  • Jefferson T. Hinke

    (NOAA Fisheries)

  • Kerstin Jerosch

    (Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung)

  • Akiko Kato

    (Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, Station d’Écologie de Chizé-La Rochelle Université, CNRS UMR7372)

  • Knowles R. Kerry

    (Water and the Environment)

  • Roger Kirkwood

    (Water and the Environment)

  • Gerald L. Kooyman

    (University of California San Diego)

  • Kit M. Kovacs

    (Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre)

  • Kieran Lawton

    (Water and the Environment)

  • Andrew D. Lowther

    (Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre)

  • Christian Lydersen

    (Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre)

  • Phil O’B. Lyver

    (Landcare Research)

  • Azwianewi B. Makhado

    (Agriculture and Fisheries)

  • Maria E. I. Márquez

    (Instituto Antártico Argentino)

  • Birgitte I. McDonald

    (San José State University)

  • Clive R. McMahon

    (University of Tasmania
    Macquarie University
    Sydney Institute of Marine Science)

  • Monica Muelbert

    (University of Tasmania
    Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande)

  • Dominik Nachtsheim

    (Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung
    University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover)

  • Keith W. Nicholls

    (Natural Environment Research Council)

  • Erling S. Nordøy

    (UiT-The Arctic University of Norway)

  • Silvia Olmastroni

    (della Terra e dell’Ambiente, Università di Siena
    Museo Nazionale dell’Antartide)

  • Richard A. Phillips

    (Natural Environment Research Council)

  • Pierre Pistorius

    (DST-NRF Centre of Excellence at the FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, Nelson Mandela University)

  • Joachim Plötz

    (Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung)

  • Klemens Pütz

    (Antarctic Research Trust)

  • Norman Ratcliffe

    (Natural Environment Research Council)

  • Peter G. Ryan

    (University of Cape Town)

  • Mercedes Santos

    (Instituto Antártico Argentino)

  • Colin Southwell

    (Water and the Environment)

  • Iain Staniland

    (Natural Environment Research Council)

  • Akinori Takahashi

    (National Institute of Polar Research)

  • Arnaud Tarroux

    (Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre
    Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Fram Centre)

  • Wayne Trivelpiece

    (NOAA Fisheries)

  • Ewan Wakefield

    (University of Glasgow)

  • Henri Weimerskirch

    (Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, Station d’Écologie de Chizé-La Rochelle Université, CNRS UMR7372)

  • Barbara Wienecke

    (Water and the Environment)

  • José C. Xavier

    (Natural Environment Research Council
    University of Coimbra)

  • Simon Wotherspoon

    (University of Tasmania
    Water and the Environment)

  • Ian D. Jonsen

    (Macquarie University)

  • Ben Raymond

    (University of Tasmania
    University of Tasmania
    Water and the Environment)

Abstract

Southern Ocean ecosystems are under pressure from resource exploitation and climate change1,2. Mitigation requires the identification and protection of Areas of Ecological Significance (AESs), which have so far not been determined at the ocean-basin scale. Here, using assemblage-level tracking of marine predators, we identify AESs for this globally important region and assess current threats and protection levels. Integration of more than 4,000 tracks from 17 bird and mammal species reveals AESs around sub-Antarctic islands in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and over the Antarctic continental shelf. Fishing pressure is disproportionately concentrated inside AESs, and climate change over the next century is predicted to impose pressure on these areas, particularly around the Antarctic continent. At present, 7.1% of the ocean south of 40°S is under formal protection, including 29% of the total AESs. The establishment and regular revision of networks of protection that encompass AESs are needed to provide long-term mitigation of growing pressures on Southern Ocean ecosystems.

Suggested Citation

  • Mark A. Hindell & Ryan R. Reisinger & Yan Ropert-Coudert & Luis A. Hückstädt & Philip N. Trathan & Horst Bornemann & Jean-Benoît Charrassin & Steven L. Chown & Daniel P. Costa & Bruno Danis & Mary-Ann, 2020. "Tracking of marine predators to protect Southern Ocean ecosystems," Nature, Nature, vol. 580(7801), pages 87-92, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:580:y:2020:i:7801:d:10.1038_s41586-020-2126-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2126-y
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