Antarctica’s Looming Threat • The Revelator

• Human traffic, including tourists, fishing boats, and research vessels, is identified as a primary source of potential invaders.
• The number of ships in the area has significantly risen, with over 180 involved in more than 500 voyages between 2017 and 2018.
• Additionally, climate change is compromising Antarctica's natural defenses, with warming waters weakening the once formidable barriers.

• The arrival of non-native marine species could have catastrophic effects on the Antarctic food web.
• Invasive species like mytilid bivalves may outcompete native species, causing declines in their abundances.
• Voracious predators like Northern Pacific seastars and crabs, absent for millions of years, pose additional concerns.

Efforts to stave off invaders include:

• utilizing underwater drones and submersibles for research,
• employing machine learning to analyze collected data,
• and leveraging environmental DNA to detect the presence of nonnative species.

Biosecurity measures, particularly in invasion hotspots like the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands, are crucial.