Documents

ATCM XXXVIII and CEP XVIII 2015, Sofia, Bulgaria

Attachment 100 to information paper 20 (IP020)

ATT100 to IP020: A Roadmap for Antarctic and Southern Ocean Science for the Next Two Decades and Beyond (Attachment)

Journal article:

Kennicutt, M., Chown, S., Cassano, J., Liggett, D., Peck, L., Massom, R., . . . Sutherland, W., 2015. A roadmap for Antarctic and Southern Ocean science for the next two decades and beyond. Antarctic Science, 27(1), 3-18. doi:10.1017/S0954102014000674.

Abstract:

ATCM XXXVIII and CEP XVIII 2015, Sofia, Bulgaria

Background Paper

BP001: SCAR Lecture: Southern Ocean Acidification

Submitted: 16/04/2015

Abstract of the SCAR Lecture: Southern Ocean Acidification

Richard Bellerby, Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Bergen, Norway and State Key Laboratory for Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, China on behalf of the SCAR Action Group on Ocean Acidification

The pH and carbonate system of the Southern Ocean is changing as a consequence of increasing uptake of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in response to rising atmospheric CO₂ concentrations. This process, termed ocean acidification, may significantly impact ocean services. The climate service that the Southern Ocean provides in absorbing atmospheric CO₂ may be compromised as the oceanic sink is weakened and a larger proportion of future CO₂ emissions remain in the atmosphere, exacerbating global warming. Secondly, the ecosystem service potential may be changed through a deregulation of the order of biological systems in the ocean, challenging present ecosystem productivity, richness and biodiversity, and potentially leading to local extinction of keystone species.

This presentation will describe the changes in carbonate chemistry observed in recent decades across the Southern Ocean and deliver the latest simulations of future ocean acidification under different CO₂ emission scenarios. We will demonstrate the highly regional nature of Southern Ocean acidification, with some areas undergoing little change while others indicate changes that exceed those reported elsewhere in the global ocean. We will additionally show how various Southern Ocean species respond to these future acidification scenarios under controlled experimental conditions. Factors that can be impacted include reproductive health, organism growth and physiology, species composition and distributions, food web structure and nutrient flow. Finally we will summarise key findings from the SCAR Ocean Acidification report.

See the lecture slides.

ATCM XXXVIII and CEP XVIII 2015, Sofia, Bulgaria

Background Paper

BP004: The Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) Selected Science Highlights for 2014/15

Submitted: 11/05/2015

Summary:

ATCM XXXVIII and CEP XVIII 2015, Sofia, Bulgaria

Background Paper

BP022: A Meta-analysis of Human Disturbance Impacts on Antarctic Wildlife

Submitted: 18/05/2015

Journal article:

Coetzee B.W. and Chown S.L., 2016. A meta-analysis of human disturbance impacts on Antarctic wildlife. Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, 91(3):578-96. doi: 10.1111/brv.12184.

Abstract:

Evidence-based assessments are increasingly recognized as the best-practice approach to determine appropriate conservation interventions, but such assessments of the impact of human disturbance on wildlife are rare. Human disturbance comprises anthropogenic activities that are typically non-lethal, but may cause short- and/or longer-term stress and fitness responses in wildlife. Expanding human activity in the Antarctic region is of particular concern because it increases the scope and potential for increased human disturbance to wildlife in a region that is often thought of as relatively untouched by anthropogenic influences. Here, we use a meta-analytical approach to synthesise research on human disturbance to wildlife over the last three decades in the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic region. We combine data from 62 studies across 21 species on the behavioural, physiological and population responses of wildlife to pedestrian, vehicle and research disturbances. The overall effect size indicated a small, albeit statistically significant negative effect of disturbance (-0.39; 95% CI: -0.60 to -0.18). Negative effects were found for both physiological and population responses, but no evidence was found for a significant impact on wildlife behavioural responses. Negative effects were found across pedestrian, vehicle and research disturbances. Significant and high among-study heterogeneity was found in both disturbance and response sub-groups. Among species, it remains unclear to what extent different forms of disturbance translate into negative population responses. Most current guidelines to limit wildlife disturbance impacts in Antarctica recommend that approaches be tailored to animal behavioural cues, but our work demonstrates that behavioural changes do not necessarily reflect more cryptic, and more deleterious impacts, such as changes in physiology. In consequence, we recommend that pedestrian approach guidelines in the Antarctic region be revisited. Due to the high heterogeneity in effects, management guidelines for different sites and species will need to be developed on a case-by-case basis, ideally in conjunction with carefully designed experiments. Guidelines to reduce the impact of research activities per se require development to reduce the potential impacts of conducting research. We identify research questions that, if answered, will further improve the evidence base for guidelines to manage human disturbance in Antarctica.

Keywords: Antarctic conservation; Antarctic policy; conservation evidence; human disturbance impacts; systematic review

ATCM XXXVIII and CEP XVIII 2015, Sofia, Bulgaria

Information Paper

IP011: Antarctic Environmental Portal Content Development and Editorial Process (joint paper with Australia, Belgium, New Zealand and Norway)

Submitted: 16/04/2015

Summary:

In order to ensure that the scientific contributions to the Portal meet the required standards a number of key principles have been adopted and a rigorous content development and editorial process has been put in place to support the Portal. Key elements of the content development and editorial process are described in this paper. A flow chart illustrating the editorial process is attached as Appendix 1. Details about the content development and editorial process can be found in the Antarctic Environments Handbook, available from the Portal editor upon request.

ATCM XXXVIII and CEP XVIII 2015, Sofia, Bulgaria

Information Paper

IP019: The Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) Annual Report 2014/15

Submitted: 03/06/2015

The Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) is a non-governmental, Interdisciplinary Scientific Body of the International Council for Science (ICSU), and Observer to the Antarctic Treaty and the UNFCCC. This SCAR Annual Report highlights and provides updates on SCAR activities that are of particular interest to the Treaty Parties, gives details of SCAR Fellowships and Prizes, lists major SCAR meetings and shares any other relevant news from the 2014/15 period.

ATCM XXXVIII and CEP XVIII 2015, Sofia, Bulgaria

Information Paper

IP020: Outcomes of the 1st SCAR Antarctic and Southern Ocean Science Horizon Scan

Submitted: 01/05/2015

Summary:

At the XXXVII ATCM in 2014, SCAR informed Parties that it was carrying out the 1st SCAR Antarctic and Southern Ocean Science Horizon Scan to identify the most important scientific questions in and about the Antarctic that should be addressed over the next two decades and beyond (XXXVII ATCM, IP 13). More than 70 of the world’s leading Antarctic scientists, policy makers and visionaries (including some early career scientists) gathered in Queenstown, New Zealand, in April 2014, the week prior to XXXVII ATCM in Brasilia, to identify the final list of questions. This paper includes an introduction to Horizon Scan, outcomes of the Queenstown meeting and further developments in relation to this initiative.

Also see the attachment (ATT100) to the information paper

ATCM XXXVIII and CEP XVIII 2015, Sofia, Bulgaria

Information Paper

IP092: Antarctic Climate Change and the Environment – 2015 Update

Submitted: 04/05/2015

Summary:

ATCM XXXVIII and CEP XVIII 2015, Sofia, Bulgaria

Information Paper

IP093: Monitoring Biological Invasion across the Broader Antarctic – a Baseline and Indicator Framework

Submitted: 04/05/2015

Summary:

ATCM XXXVIII and CEP XVIII 2015, Sofia, Bulgaria

Information Paper

IP098: Report on the 2014-15 Activities of the Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS)

Submitted: 04/05/2015

The Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS) is a joint initiative of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR), and endorsed by the Partnership for Observations of the Global Ocean (POGO), and the Climate Variability and Predictability (CLIVAR) and Climate and Cryosphere (CliC) projects of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP). This paper reports on activities of SOOS in the 2014-2015 period, including implementation and planned future activities. It also lists SOOS sponsorship and endorsement.

ATCM XXXVIII and CEP XVIII 2015, Sofia, Bulgaria

An overview of SCAR Papers submitted to ATCM XXXVIII and CEP XVIII 2015

ATCM XXXVIII and CEP XVIII 2015, Sofia, Bulgaria

Lecture slides of the SCAR Lecture 2015: Southern Ocean Acidification

Richard Bellerby

Richard Bellerby, Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Bergen, Norway and State Key Laboratory for Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, China on behalf of the SCAR Action Group on Ocean Acidification

Abstract available as Background Paper 1 (BP001)

ATCM XXXVIII and CEP XVIII 2015, Sofia, Bulgaria

Working Paper

WP021: Antarctic Environments Portal – Project Completion and Next Steps (joint paper with Australia, Belgium, New Zealand and Norway)

Submitted: 16/04/2015

Summary:

Wise management of the Antarctic environment requires access to high quality scientific information. Pressures on Antarctica, through a changing Antarctic climate and increasing human activity means that there is a pressing need to improve the availability of, and access to policy-ready information to support the effective implementation of the Protocol. The Antarctic Environments Portal (www.environments.aq) meets this need by placing policy-ready information on Antarctic environments at the fingertips of those involved in Antarctic management and governance. The Portal also supports SCAR’s scientific advisory role to the Antarctic Treaty System.

The Portal development project is concluding. The Portal is being transferred to the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand from where it will be managed for an interim period of time. A Management Board will be established to oversee the Portal. An Editorial Group has been established to support the Editor. Funding to support the ongoing operation of the Portal is actively being sought.

Members are invited to: lend their support to the Portal; consider how it can be used to support the work of the CEP; consider whether and how it might engage with the Portal by providing Editorial Group members in the future, and provide thoughts on long-term management arrangements for the Portal.

ATCM XXXVIII and CEP XVIII 2015, Sofia, Bulgaria

Working Paper

WP027: Wildlife Approach Distances in Antarctica

Submitted: 16/04/2015

Summary:

Setting appropriate wildlife approach distances for minimizing the impacts of human activities in Antarctica has long been of concern to the ATCPs, reflected by Article 3 of Annex II to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty. A wide range of guidelines for approach distances now exists. The question of approach distances to minimize wildlife impacts nonetheless remains of concern, especially given increases in activities such as coastal camping and the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for scientific research and other purposes. This paper presents the outcome of a recent meta-analysis of research conducted on human disturbance impacts on Antarctic wildlife. The research demonstrates that current, behaviourally-based pedestrian approach distance guidelines, as set out in Resolution 3 (2011) – ATCM XXXIV, do not reflect cryptic (physiological), negative responses by wildlife, and consideration should be given to their revision. No scientific evidence currently exists for impacts of camping or UAVs on wildlife in Antarctica, because such work has not yet been published in the peer-reviewed literature. Work on UAV impacts is underway both on the continent and elsewhere globally, which means that evidence on impacts and their mitigation will become available within the next few years.