Impacts of global climate change on birds and marine mammals in Antarctica

Birds and marine mammals in Antarctica, especially penguins and seals, are top consumers and critical elements of the Southern Ocean ecosystem. As a region undergoing rapid global change, new challenges will be posed to the survival of these vertebrates species. Global climate change causes many alterations, such as ocean temperature rise, altered sea ice distribution, and abnormal climate events along with effects of intensive human activities, such as fishing. These not only directly affect the spatiotemporal distributions and population dynamics of Antarctic birds and marine mammals but also indirectly influence them via modification of their food resources. At present, the impact of climate change on birds and marine mammals in the Antarctica is focusing on a number of species in a few areas. Response mechanisms of these species are still very limited and therefore require further long-term and continuous monitoring and research.