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Terrestrial ecosystem responses to climate changes in the Antarctic

  • Chapter
“Fingerprints” of Climate Change

Abstract

Parts of Antarctica, particularly the Antarctic Peninsula region and sub-Antarctic Islands, are experiencing rapid changes in climate, particularly temperature, precipitation/hydration and irradiation, although it is becoming clear that many of these are driven by regional rather than global processes. Terrestrial ecosystems of this remote region provide a “natural experiment” in which to identify biological responses (at scales between cell biochemistry and whole ecosystem) to changing climate variables, both in isolation and combination. The conclusions drawn may be applied to more complex lower latitude ecosystems, where change is perceived to have more direct relevance to Mankind. This paper gives an overview of recent and continuing studies of Antarctic terrestrial biology, assessing these in the context of existing predictive literature. The importance of flexibility (physiological and ecological) and resilience of existing taxa in the face of change are highlighted. In the longterm, large-scale changes in ecosystem structure, complexity and diversity are likely as a consequence of long-distance colonisation by exotic species. However, in the shorter term, geographical isolation will limit responses to those of existing terrestrial biota. In contrast with some earlier predictions of wide-ranging deleterious effects, these now appear likely to be subtle and multifactorial in origin.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Natural Environment Research Council, British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, CB3 OET, Cambridge, UK

    Peter Convey

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  1. Peter Convey
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Hannover, Hannover, Germany

    G.-R. Walther

  2. University of Zurich-Irchel, Zurich, Switzerland

    C. A. Burga

  3. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland

    P. J. Edwards

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© 2001 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Convey, P. (2001). Terrestrial ecosystem responses to climate changes in the Antarctic. In: Walther, GR., Burga, C.A., Edwards, P.J. (eds) “Fingerprints” of Climate Change. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-8692-4_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-8692-4_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

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