SOBRECUBIERTA 1/10/08 17:22 Página 1 CARLOS M. DUARTE Ecosystems on Polar of Global Warming Impacts The confirmation that our planet is The challenges posed by polar research are crucial for the whole future of is a research professor for the Spanish undergoing a process of global warming— humanity.A deeper understanding of the phenomena occurring in the polar Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) at in which greenhouse gas emissions due to the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced regions, and the forces that drive them, not only enlightens us to the importance human activity are an important causal Studies (IMEDEA). He holds a degree in of research, it also, and more importantly, alerts us to the social and behavioural factor—has focused growing attention on animal biology from the Autonomous changes we must undertake in order to manage global change and all that it the impacts of this change on society and University of Madrid and completed his entails in the environmental and social spheres. the natural environment. And while the scale and repercussions of the problem doctoral thesis on the ecology of lake These areas of the planet offer us an exceptional scientific heritage which must have yet to be sufficiently investigated, it macrophytes at McGill University, be investigated, of course, but also brought to the attention of the broader public. is acknowledged that polar ecosystems Montreal, Canada. His research work has For this reason, scientific information and education are seen as a vital part of ranged over a wide variety of aquatic may be among the most vulnerable. International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008. Spain, in effect, has devoted a large ecosystems on different continents. He International Polar Year, with an intense effort to organising research projects at both poles; an effort which must be has taken part in three Antarctic programme of activities running from accompanied by campaigns to explain and disseminate polar science. The expeditions and, in 2007, led Spain’s first Impacts of Global Warming March 2007 to March 2009, offers a ever scientific expedition in Arctic waters, organisation of the debating series “Impacts of Global Warming on Polar Carlos M. Duarte (Ed.) timely opportunity to address this and ATOS-Ártico. In 2001, he received the Ecosystems” and the publication of this book represent a decisive step forward on Polar Ecosystems other gaps in our knowledge. G. Evelyn Hutchinson Award for scientific in relaying scientific research findings to society at large. This book draws its contents from the excellence from the American Society of Margarita Yela González second in a series of debates organised jointly by the Spanish Council for Limnology and Oceanography. In 2005, he Researcher at the National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA) Scientific Research (CSIC) and the was appointed to the Academia Europaea Chair of the Spanish IPY Committee Carlos M. Duarte (Ed.) and recognised as a “highly cited” BBVA Foundation around the work of the scientist by the Institute of Scientific Cap Salines Coastal Research Station Information (Philadelphia, United States), (Mallorca, Balearic Islands). In its pages, and the following year was elected leading international experts review and president of the American Society of The speed of change in polar ecosystems brought about by global warming calls synthesise the current state of scientific Limnology and Oceanography. Carlos for urgent action not only to improve but also to disseminate our scientific knowl- knowledge to gauge how climate change Duarte is editor-in-chief of the journal edge of these regions. The contributions from reputed international experts unit- may impact on our polar ecosystems. Estuaries and also sits on the editorial ed in this volume take us on a journey that begins with a synthetic overview of boards of a dozen international journals the Arctic and Antarctic ecosystems, continues with the impact of UV radiation and the committees of various national on the polar oceans and a study of the interactions between climate change, and international programmes. He is intensive whaling and Antarctic food webs, and concludes with the repercus- currently a member of the CSIC’s sions of climate change for the Arctic’s pelagic and benthic ecosystems. With Scientific Advisory Board and the boards clarity and scientific rigour, this book offers its readers a comprehensive guide to of directors of the Estuarine Research Federation and the American Society of the issues surrounding global warming and its effects on the polar regions. Limnology and Oceanography. He has Marta Estrada Miyares published over 300 scientific articles in Research Professor at the Institute of Marine Sciences international journals and contributed Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) chapters to a number of collective publications, as well as co-authoring the books Seagrass Ecology (Cambridge University Press, 2000), Seagrasses: Biology, Ecology and Conservation (Springer, 2006) and The Exploration of Marine Biodiversity: Scientific and Technological Challenges (Fundación BBVA, 2006), which he also edited. www.fbbva.es 00 DUARTE INGLES - Q7:Maquetación 1 1/10/08 10:00 Página 1 00 DUARTE INGLES - Q7:Maquetación 1 1/10/08 10:00 Página 2 00 DUARTE INGLES - Q7:Maquetación 1 1/10/08 10:00 Página 3 Impacts of Global Warming on Polar Ecosystems 00 DUARTE INGLES - Q7:Maquetación 1 1/10/08 10:00 Página 4 00 DUARTE INGLES - Q7:Maquetación 1 1/10/08 10:00 Página 5 Impacts of Global Warming on Polar Ecosystems Carlos M. Duarte (ed.) 00 DUARTE INGLES - Q7:Maquetación 1 1/10/08 10:00 Página 6 The BBVA Foundation’s decision to publish this book does not imply any responsibility for its content, or for the inclusion therein of any supplementary documents or information facilitated by the authors. No part of this publication, including the cover design, may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright holder. CATALOGUING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA Impacts of Global Warming on Polar Ecosystems / edited by Carlos M. Duarte. — Bilbao : Fundación BBVA, 2008. 190 p. ; 18 x 26 cm ISBN: 978-84-96515-74-1 1. Cambio climático 2. Impacto ambiental 3. Ártico 4. Antártida I. Duarte, Carlos M. II. Fundación BBVA, ed. 551.581.21 Impacts of Global Warming on Polar Ecosystems PUBLISHED BY: © Fundación BBVA, 2008 Plaza de San Nicolás, 4. 48005 Bilbao DESIGN AND PRODUCTION: José Manuel Reyero / Comunicación y Gestión Ambiental ALAIRE, S.L. EDITOR: Karen Welch PRINTED BY: V.A. Impresores, S.A. BOUND BY: Ramos ISBN: 978-84-96515-74-1 LEGAL DEPOSIT: M-37491-2008 Printed in Spain This book is printed on totally chlorine-free paper in conformity with the environmental standards required by current legislation. 00 DUARTE INGLES - Q7:Maquetación 1 1/10/08 10:00 Página 7 CONTENTS Introduction: Global Warming and Polar Ecosystems Carlos M. Duarte ......................................................................................................................... 13 1. The Impact of Increasing Ultraviolet Radiation on the Polar Oceans Susana Agustí .................................................................................................................................. 23 1.1. Ultraviolet radiation and the terrestrial ozone layer .................................... 25 1.2. Atmospheric pollution and ozone decline .......................................................... 26 1.2.1. An ozone hole over Antarctica .................................................................... 28 1.2.2. The current situation: predictions and global warming ................ 29 1.3. Increased UV radiation over the polar regions ................................................ 32 1.4. Damage induced by UV radiation and protection mechanisms ............ 34 1.4.1. Avoiding exposure to UV radiation: plankton migrations ......... 35 1.4.2. Protection and repair systems ...................................................................... 36 1.4.2.1. Protective cellular structures or “parasols” ....................... 36 1.4.2.2. “Sun filter” production .................................................................. 37 1.4.2.3. Antioxidants ......................................................................................... 38 1.4.2.4. Repair systems ..................................................................................... 38 1.5. Impact of increasing UV radiation on the polar oceans ............................. 39 Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................... 43 References ......................................................................................................................................... 43 2. Are Declining Antarctic Krill Stocks a Result of Global Warming or of the Decimation of the Whales? Victor Smetacek ............................................................................................................................. 45 2.1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 48 2.2. Iron limitation of productivity .................................................................................. 50 2.3. Diatoms, euphausiids and blue whales .................................................................. 53 2.3.1. Diatoms .....................................................................................................................