Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Florida, USA.
Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2011 Mar;1223:82-107. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2010.05926.x.
Antarctica is the most isolated continent on Earth, but it has not escaped the negative impacts of human activity. The unique marine ecosystems of Antarctica and their endemic faunas are affected on local and regional scales by overharvesting, pollution, and the introduction of alien species. Global climate change is also having deleterious impacts: rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification already threaten benthic and pelagic food webs. The Antarctic Treaty System can address local- to regional-scale impacts, but it does not have purview over the global problems that impinge on Antarctica, such as emissions of greenhouse gases. Failure to address human impacts simultaneously at all scales will lead to the degradation of Antarctic marine ecosystems and the homogenization of their composition, structure, and processes with marine ecosystems elsewhere.
南极洲是地球上最孤立的大陆，但它也未能幸免于人类活动的负面影响。南极洲独特的海洋生态系统及其特有动物群在局部和区域范围内受到过度捕捞、污染和引入外来物种的影响。全球气候变化也产生了有害影响：海水温度上升和海洋酸化已经威胁到底栖和浮游食物网。《南极条约》体系可以解决局部到区域范围的影响，但它没有权限处理影响南极洲的全球性问题，如温室气体排放。如果不能在所有尺度上同时解决人类的影响，将导致南极海洋生态系统的退化，以及其组成、结构和过程与其他地方的海洋生态系统趋同。
