Antarctica is the safe house of several native species, but a recent research study discovers the poor state of the biodiversity there. Scientists unveil the actual condition of this continent.
According to the Stanford Report, Monash scientists have exposed a bitter truth that Antarctica and the Southern Ocean no more depicts a better biodiversity. The difference between the current environmental shape of the continent and the rest of the world is very minimal. A group of 23 researchers that include the Stanford University has completed the research study.
During the study, the research team compared the present biodiversity in Antarctica and its management with the global trends. The team applied the Aichi targets of the CBD or Convention on Biological Diversity. Steven Chown, the lead author of the study, confesses the surprising facts.
Steven Chown utters that some areas of Antarctica depict development about the invasive species management. But, when it is about the bioprospecting and protected area management, then result shows no positive sign. The status of the biodiversity in the said continent and the world is almost same.
Several global factors like the rise of the sea level, climate change, and ocean circulation depend hugely on Antarctica. Cassandra Brooks, the second author of the study, opines that the new research must help to find a proper policy under the Antarctic Treaty System. He stresses on the conservation of the continent's ecosystem. In a word, he indicates about the biodiversity of the area.
Brooks also adds that the current assessment unveils the bitter impacts of human activities on the biodiversity in Antarctica. The complete study is published in the journal PLoS Biology. A real fact is a safe ecosystem can save the civilization on earth.
The interesting fact is the said Aichi targets includes a specific plan for biodiversity 2011-2020 under the CBD. Surprisingly the plan was not so far applied to Antarctica and the Southern Ocean that together covers 10 percent of the planet's surface. Scientists discover the rapid decrement in krill and phytoplankton that ultimately boosts the Southern Ocean's ecosystem.
People and the nations that are associated with the development of the ecosystem of Antarctica should be more conscious and active. The conservation of the biodiversity of the continent is the need of the hour. Every individual should understand the importance of this conservation.
