Document Type
Article
Department/Program
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Publication Date
2-3-2022
Journal
Communications Biology
Volume
5
First Page
104
Abstract
Over the last half of the 20th century, the western Antarctic Peninsula has been one of the most rapidly warming regions on Earth, leading to substantial reductions in regional sea ice coverage. These changes are modulated by atmospheric forcing, including the Amundsen Sea Low (ASL) pressure system. We utilized a novel 25-year (1993–2017) time series to model the effects of environmental variability on larvae of a keystone species, the Antarctic Silverfish (Pleuragramma antarctica). Antarctic Silverfish use sea ice as spawning habitat and are important prey for penguins and other predators. We show that warmer sea surface temperature and decreased sea ice are associated with reduced larval abundance. Variability in the ASL modulates both sea surface temperature and sea ice; a strong ASL is associated with reduced larvae. These findings support a narrow sea ice and temperature tolerance for adult and larval fish. Further regional warming predicted to occur during the 21st century could displace populations of Antarctic Silverfish, altering this pelagic ecosystem.
DOI
doi: 10.1038/s42003-022-03042-3
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Corso, Andrew D.; Steinberg, Deborah K.; Stammerjohn, Sharon E.; and Hilton, Eric J., Climate drives long-term change in Antarctic Silverfish along the western Antarctic Peninsula (2022). Communications Biology, 5, 104.
doi: 10.1038/s42003-022-03042-3
Supplementary information
