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Invasive Barnacles Breach Arctic's Icy Defenses
5 Oct
Summary
- Researchers detect first invasive barnacle species in Nunavut's waters
- Warming Arctic waters and increased shipping open region to invasive species
- Barnacles found near Pond Inlet, a gateway to the Northwest Passage
In a concerning development, researchers have found evidence of the first invasive barnacle species in the waters of Nunavut, Canada's northernmost territory. This discovery, published last month in the journal Global Change Biology, is believed to be a direct result of the rapid warming of the Arctic region.
The Arctic's once-frigid waters have traditionally acted as a barrier, preventing the migration of invasive species northward. However, with the Arctic warming nearly four times faster than anywhere else on Earth, this thermal shield is weakening. Shipping traffic in parts of Arctic Canada has increased by over 250% since 1990, providing a vector for the introduction of non-indigenous species.
The bay barnacle (Amphibalanus improvisus), already present in European and Pacific waters, has now been detected in ten different areas across Canada's Arctic. Researchers, who collected water samples from cruise ships to identify the species using environmental DNA, found the highest concentration of barnacles near Pond Inlet, a key gateway to the Northwest Passage.
While the researchers don't believe the bay barnacle alone will destroy the entire ecosystem, they warn that its presence is a troubling sign that the Arctic's pristine environment is becoming increasingly vulnerable to invasive species. As the region continues to open up due to climate change, the risk of further introductions will only grow, underscoring the need for proactive monitoring and regulation to protect this fragile ecosystem.
