Radiocarbon bomb spike reveals biological effects of Antarctic climate change

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dc.contributor.authorClarke, LJen_AU
dc.contributor.authorRobinson, SAen_AU
dc.contributor.authorHua, Qen_AU
dc.contributor.authorAyre, DJen_AU
dc.contributor.authorFink, Den_AU
dc.date.accessioned2021-12-16T01:38:15Zen_AU
dc.date.available2021-12-16T01:38:15Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2012-01en_AU
dc.date.statistics2021-11-11en_AU
dc.description.abstractThe Antarctic has experienced major changes in temperature, wind speed and stratospheric ozone levels during the last 50 years. However, until recently continental Antarctica appeared to be little impacted by climate warming, thus biological changes were predicted to be relatively slow. Detecting the biological effects of Antarctic climate change has been hindered by the paucity of long-term data sets, particularly for organisms that have been exposed to these changes throughout their lives. We show that radiocarbon signals are preserved along shoots of the dominant Antarctic moss flora and use these to determine accurate growth rates over a period of several decades, allowing us to explore the influence of environmental variables on growth and providing a dramatic demonstration of the effects of climate change. We have generated detailed 50-year growth records for Ceratodon purpureus and three other Antarctic moss species using the 1960s radiocarbon bomb spike. Our growth rate and stable carbon isotope (δ13C) data show that C. purpureus’ growth rates are correlated with key climatic variables, and furthermore that the observed effects of climate variation on growth are mediated through changes in water availability. Our results indicate the timing and balance between warming, high-wind speeds and elevated UV fluxes may determine the fate of these mosses and the associated communities that form oases of Antarctic biodiversity. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltden_AU
dc.identifier.citationClarke, L. J., Robinson, S. A., Hua, Q., Ayre, D. J., & Fink, D. (2012). Radiocarbon bomb spike reveals biological effects of Antarctic climate change. Global change biology, 18(1), 301-310. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2486.2011.02560.xen_AU
dc.identifier.issn1365-2486en_AU
dc.identifier.issue1en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitleGlobal change biologyen_AU
dc.identifier.pagination301-310en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2011.02560.xen_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/12478en_AU
dc.identifier.volume18en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherWileyen_AU
dc.subjectAntarcticaen_AU
dc.subjectMossesen_AU
dc.subjectClimatic changeen_AU
dc.subjectOzone layeren_AU
dc.subjectIsotope datingen_AU
dc.subjectStable isotopesen_AU
dc.subjectSpecies diversityen_AU
dc.titleRadiocarbon bomb spike reveals biological effects of Antarctic climate changeen_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
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