The Argentine deep sea: a new strategic frontier for sustainable development
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47193/mafis.3842025011006Keywords:
Biodiversity, Warming, Acidification, Scientific diplomacy, Ecosystem-based environmental managementAbstract
The deep-sea ecosystems and biodiversity of Argentina are sensitive to the effects of climate variation such as warming, oxygen loss, and ocean acidification. This vulnerability is due to specific characteristics such as the presence of long-lived species, which can live for over 4,000 years, with very slow growth and reproduction rates, which depend on habitats with complex configurations. As a result, many deep-sea ecosystems affected by disturbances have a low probability of recovery, and if recovery occurs, it may take hundreds or even thousands of years. This document synthesizes the results of a Specialist Workshop that reviewed the current state of scientific knowledge and discussed its application to the management of Argentina’s deep sea, from an ecosystem-based perspective that considers climate variability. Argentina’s deep sea, spans depths ranging from 200 to 6,000 m, covering more than 70% of the national maritime territory, with an approximate area of 4.6 million km2. In the Argentine seabed, geomorphological and oceanographic complexity indicates a high potential to support extensive benthic biodiversity. However, knowledge about its ecosystems and the environmental management policies for this vast Argentine territory have been limited and fragmented, particularly regarding the incorporation of climate-related variables. Designing effective policies to protect its biodiversity and the multiple benefits these ecosystems provide to society implies robust technical advice, for which it is essential to strengthen scientific knowledge on Argentina’s deep-sea ecosystems and their interaction with climate variability, as well as sustained coordination and collaboration among all relevant sectors.
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Copyright (c) 2025 María Emilia Bravo, Lisa A. Levin, Viviana Alder, Graziella Bozzano, Alejandro D. Buren, Juan Cruz Carbajal, Paola Davila, Brenda L. Doti, Federico D. Esteban, Pedro Flombaum, Diego A. Giberto, Juliana Giménez, Micaela Giorgini, Valeria A. Guinder, Federico M. Ibarbalz, Lucía C. Kahl, María Eugenia Lattuca, Daniel Lauretta, Gustavo A. Lovrich, Mariano I. Martínez, Adriana Menoret, Guido Pastorino, Martha P. Rincón-Díaz, Laura A. Ruiz-Etcheverry, Sebastián E. Sabatini, Ricardo Sahade, Ornella Silvestri, Marcos Tatián, Valeria Teso, Diego G. Urteaga, Eleonora Verón, Sandra M. Vivequin, Chih Lin Wei
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