Invasive species entering Antarctica because of climate change

The extremely cold weather served for many years as the natural protection for Antarctica's native species. Invasive species didn't stand the chance to survive in Antarctica simply because the weather was too cold. But the impact of climate change is constantly growing, the temperatures are rising, and with these changes invasive species are looking more and more like a huge threat to Antarctica's native ecosystems.

The Swedish scientists have already spotted large populations of red king crabs over a 30-mile stretch of deep-sea habitat along the western Antarctica Peninsula during the recent Antarctic summer. Up until recently the weather was too cold for crabs to survive but in the last ten years or so the average ocean temperature around Antarctica has increased by around 1 degree Fahrenheit. Not that big increase, but big enough for king crabs to expand their territory.

The rise of king crab population in Antarctica waters could spell serious trouble for species such as mussels, brittle stars, and sea urchins. The problem is that these species haven't developed effective defense systems against predators since up to now cold weather managed to isolate them from predators.

The isolation period could soon come to an abrupt end for many species in Antarctica, and sensible ecosystems of Antarctica will find it extremely hard to survive the invasion of foreign predatory species.

Their isolation has lasted tens of millions of years but climate change could change all of this in only couple of decades time.

The uniqueness of species in Antarctica is under great threat. These species will not only have to withstand climate change but also hordes of invasive animals that are slowly but surely making their way to once impenetrable kingdom of ice.

Climate change opens door for invasive species

Climate change will likely create huge damage for many native animal and plant species in years to come because changing climate conditions will open the door for many invasive species. This will not only cause huge environmental damage but also huge economic damage, and according to the scientists from the Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP) invasion of alien species will likely cost countries 10% of their gross domestic product (GDP).

The link between climate change and invasive species is more than evident, and their combination has been already described by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as the "deadly duo".

Something certainly needs to be done to lessen their impact, and the most obvious solution looks to be in form of a new international climate deal that would oblige countries to significantly reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, and with it stop further strengthening of the climate change impact.

Invasive species are already big environmental problem in many parts of the world, and if climate change continues to further strengthen its ever-increasing impact biodiversity as we know it today could be irreversibly lost in many parts of the world.

Estimated economic damage from invasive species worldwide totals more than $1.4 trillion annually, which accounts approximately for around 5% of the global economy. Unless world does something to prevent the spreading of invasive species this number will soon become even larger, and even more damaging to global economy.

World leaders are still not aware how dangerous this interaction between climate change and invasive species is, and what kind of damage could this interaction create to global biodiversity. Biodiversity is the key component of all life on our planet, including the lives of each and every one of us, and world must act very quick to stop the currently ongoing huge loss of biodiversity.