SCAR XXXVI Paper 29: Final Report of SRP AntEco (State of the Antarctic Ecosystem) Popular

SCAR XXXVI Delegates Meeting, Online, 16-25 March 2021

SCAR XXXVI Paper 29: Final Report of SRP AntEco (State of the Antarctic Ecosystem)

Agenda Item: 16.2
Person Responsible: Huw Griffiths

Authors: Jan Strugnell (Australia) & Huw Griffiths (UK), Steering Committee (international)

Background to Programme

AntEco aimed to increase the scientific knowledge of biodiversity, from genes to ecosystems that, coupled with increased knowledge of species biology, can be used for the conservation and management of Antarctic ecosystems.
Biological diversity is the sum of all organisms in a system. These organisms collectively determine how ecosystems function and underpin the life-support system of our planet. The SCAR-Biology Programme - State of the Antarctic Ecosystem (AntEco) was been designed to focus on past and present patterns of biodiversity across all environments within the Antarctic, sub-Antarctic and Southern Ocean regions. The broad objectives of the programme were to increase the scientific knowledge of biodiversity, from genes to ecosystems that, coupled with increased knowledge of species biology, can be used for the conservation and management of Antarctic ecosystems.

Major achievements and legacies

Networking, workshops and supporting early career researchers.
An Expansive list of publications (over 200 articles, reports and book chapters) including the SCAR Biogeographic Atlas of the Southern Ocean.
SO-AntEco expedition to the South Orkney Island Marine Protected Area.
Founding members of the Marine Ecosystem Assessment of the Southern Ocean.
AntEco has also had several new significant contributions to the Antarctic Environments Portal.

Final procedural recommendations to Delegates

AntEco members have played very active roles in formulating the new SRPs. As such, future research recommendations have been captured. We recommend that SCAR continues to support the community established by AntEco (and Ant-ERA) through continuing to support sessions at conferences and the existing mailing lists.(see main text for an explanation)