Invasive barnacle DNA found in Canadian Arctic, scientists warn of warming threat

Scientists have detected DNA from an invasive barnacle species in Canada's Arctic, raising alarm over the loss of the region's natural defence against ecological threats.

A recent study published in Global Change Biology by researchers from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) reveals the first recorded presence of a non-native barnacle in Arctic Canadian waters. The species, identified as Amphibalanus improvisus or bay barnacle, was found using environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding, which allows scientists to analyse water samples for genetic traces left by marine organisms.

This discovery suggests that the Arctic is no longer a reliable thermal barrier against biological invasions. As climate change warms the region nearly four times faster than the global average, the once-hostile waters are becoming increasingly hospitable to invasive species.

The bay barnacle, already common in European and Pacific marine environments, poses significant ecological risks. It can cause biofouling on ships, pipelines, and coastal infrastructure, while also displacing native species. It's likely introduction route into the Arctic is via increased shipping traffic, either through ballast water or hull attachment.

Since 1990, shipping in Canada's Arctic has surged by over 250 percent, driven largely by diminishing sea ice. This rising marine traffic, combined with warmer waters, creates favourable conditions for invasive species to survive and establish populations.

Elizabeth Boyse, the study’s lead author and a BAS ecologist, said the findings highlight how climate change is central to this growing threat. “Ships are increasing in number because of reduced sea ice, opening new shipping routes. Add to this, the invasive species that the ships bring to the Arctic are also more likely to survive and establish populations because of warmer water temperatures,” she said.

The research underscores growing concerns about how rapid Arctic warming could trigger long-term ecological disruption far beyond the region.

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