Hindell, Mark A.Reisinger, Ryan RudolfRopert-Coudert, YanHuckstadt, Luis A.Trathan, Philip N.Bornemann, HorstCharrassin, Jean-BenoitChown, Steven L.Costa, Daniel P.Danis, BrunoLea, Mary-AnneThompson, DavidTorres, Leigh G.Van de Putte, Anton P.Alderman, RachaelAndrews-Goff, VirginiaArthur, BenBallard, GrantBengtson, JohnBester, Marthan NieuwoudtBlix, Arnoldus SchytteBoehme, LarsBost, Charles-AndreBoveng, PeterCleeland, JaimieConstantine, RochelleCorney, StuartCrawford, Robert J.M.Dalla Rosa, LucianoDe Bruyn, P.J. NicoDelord, KarineDescamps, SebastienDouble, MikeEmmerson, LouiseFedak, MikeFriedlaender, AriGales, NickGoebel, Michael E.Goetz, Kimberly T.Guinet, ChristopheGoldsworthy, Simon D.Harcourt, RobHinke, Jefferson T.Jerosch, KerstinKato, AkikoKerry, Knowles R.Kirkwood, RogerKooyman, Gerald L.Kovacs, Kit M.Lawton, KieranLowther, Andrew D.Lydersen, ChristianLyver, Phil O’B.Makhado, Azwianewi B.Márquez, Maria E.I.McDonald, Birgitte I.McMahon, Clive ReginaldMuelbert, MonicaNachtsheim, DominikNordøy, Erling S.Olmastroni, SilviaPhillips, Richard A.Pistorius, Pierre AntonPlotz, JoachimPutz, KlemensRatcliffe, NormanRyan, Peter G.Santos, MercedesSouthwell, ColinStaniland, IainTakahashi, AkinoriTarroux, ArnaudTrivelpiece, WayneWakefield, EwanWeimerskirch, HenriWienecke, BarbaraXavier, Jose C.Wotherspoon, SimonJonsen, Ian D.Raymond, Ben2021-07-122021-07-122020-04Hindell, M.A., Reisinger, R.R., Ropert-Coudert, Y. et al. Tracking of marine predators to protect Southern Ocean ecosystems. Nature 580, 87–92 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2126-y.0028-0836 (print)1476-4687 (online)10.1038/s41586-020-2126-yhttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/80786Southern Ocean ecosystems are under pressure from resource exploitation and climate change. Mitigation requires the identifcation and protection of Areas of Ecological Signifcance (AESs), which have so far not been determined at the ocean-basin scale. Here, using assemblage-level tracking of marine predators, we identify AESs for this globally important region and assess current threats and protection levels. Integration of more than 4,000 tracks from 17 bird and mammal species reveals AESs around subAntarctic islands in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and over the Antarctic continental shelf. Fishing pressure is disproportionately concentrated inside AESs, and climate change over the next century is predicted to impose pressure on these areas, particularly around the Antarctic continent. At present, 7.1% of the ocean south of 40°S is under formal protection, including 29% of the total AESs. The establishment and regular revision of networks of protection that encompass AESs are needed to provide long-term mitigation of growing pressures on Southern Ocean ecosystems.en© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited 2020.Southern oceanClimate changeEcosystemsTrackingMarine predatorsAreas of ecological signifcance (AESs)Article