Subantarctic hitchhikers: expeditioners as vectors for the introduction of alien organisms

Whinam, Jennie; Chilcott, N; Bergstrom, Dana M.

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2004.04.020

Cited by 151 publications

(129 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…We estimated the number of propagules per visitor for ∼2% of all visitors (853 individual scientists, science-support personnel, tourists, tourist support personnel, and ships' crew) to all major areas of the Antarctic during the first summer season of the IPY (2007-2008) by collecting seeds from their outer clothing, footwear, walking poles, day packs, and camera bags (21,41) (Table S6) using Philips FC9154/01 vacuum cleaners. For most sampled visitors, the material collected from clothing and equipment was retained in a single bag, but for 349 visitors, the material from each item was kept separately (Table S6).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Continent-wide risk assessment for the establishment of nonindigenous species in Antarctica

Chown

Huiskes

Gremmen

et al. 2012

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

310

322

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International audienceInvasive alien species are among the primary causes of biodiversity change globally, with the risks there of broadly understood for most regions of the world. They are similarly thought to be among the most significant conservation threats to Antarctica, especially as climate change proceeds in the region. However, no comprehensive, continent-wide evaluation of the risks to Antarctica posed by such species has been undertaken. Here we do so by sampling, identifying, and mapping the vascular plant propagules carried by all categories of visitors to Antarctica during the International Polar Year's first season (2007-2008) and assessing propagule establishment likelihood based on their identity and origins and on spatial variation in Antarctica's climate. For an evaluation of the situation in 2100, we use modeled climates based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Special Report on Emissions Scenarios Scenario A1B [Nakicenovic N, Swart R, eds (2000) Special Report on Emissions Scenarios: A Special Report of Working Group III of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK)]. Visitors carrying seeds average 9.5 seeds per person, although as vectors, scientists carry greater propagule loads than tourists. Annual tourist numbers (∼33,054) are higher than those of scientists (∼7,085), thus tempering these differences in propagule load. Alien species establishment is currently most likely for the Western Antarctic Peninsula. Recent founder populations of several alien species in this area corroborate these findings. With climate change, risks will grow in the Antarctic Peninsula, Ross Sea, and East Antarctic coastal regions. Our evidence-based assessment demonstrates which parts of Antarctica are at growing risk from alien species that may become invasive and provides the means to mitigate this threat now and into the future as the continent's climate changes

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sampling was considered to capture the large majority of seeds, although this somewhat underestimated propagule pressure (21). The number of seeds that would drop off a visitor was considered proportional to the number of seeds found during sampling, and propagule viability was considered high (41,46).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Continent-wide risk assessment for the establishment of nonindigenous species in Antarctica

Chown

Huiskes

Gremmen

et al. 2012

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

310

322

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“…clothes, vehicles, aircraft and ship holds, food, cargo, sand, aggregate, wood, and other building materials (see Whinam et al 2005). In an area devoid of trees, wooden materials are especially valuable and timber in various forms is thus delivered to Antarctic stations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Timber transported to Antarctica: a potential and undesirable carrier for alien fungi and insects

et al. 2011

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Antarctica's severe climate and its geographical isolation are the factors that hinder the arrival of non-native species by natural means. However, the movement of people and cargo associated with national scientific programs and tourism render Antarctica much more accessible to exotic organisms. Both the transport routes and carriers are varied. The wide range of uses to which timber is put means that it is readily freighted to Antarctic stations. However, it can harbor numerous alien organisms. All the timber materials transported to the ''Arctowski'' station for the 32nd Polish Antarctic Expedition in the 2007/2008 season were scanned as a potential vector for alien species. This study focuses on the non-lichenized fungi and insects which were found on the timber. Four species of perithecia-forming Ascomycota, five species of corticioid and polyporoid Basidiomycota, four unidentified basidiomycetes taxa in form of sterile mycelia, and two insects belonging to Cerambycidae, were detected. Most of these 'hitch-hikers' were connected with the untreated parts of the timber. Their enduring survival in harsh Antarctic conditions is regarded as highly improbable. Nevertheless, some ascocarps frequently contained vital spores, and live insect larvae and imago were found in hibernation. The results also emphasize that such organisms can be accidentally transported to Antarctica and that the elementary rules for the eventual safe transport of noninfected goods should be obeyed and respected.

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“…Whinam et al (2005) began the study of examining pathways of alien propagules into the sub-Antarctic, identifying cargo, food and expeditioners' clothing, gear and equipment as all potential means of transport to these remote islands. They also demonstrated the success of adaptive management practices to prevent propagule transport.…”

Section: Human Impacts On Sub-antarctic Terrestrial Environments 165mentioning

confidence: 99%

Human impacts on sub-Antarctic terrestrial environments

Bergstrom¹,

Selkirk²

2007

PPRST

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Sub-Antarctic islands are some of the rarest ecosystems on the planet and therefore are highly significant. Around 200 years of human activities have left a legacy of substantial impacts. We explore these under the collective headings of resource harvesting, local impacts and habitat loss, homogenisation of biota and human-infl uenced climate change. Past human activities such as sealing and whaling have left seal species still in recovery phases, and infrastructure that continues to break down and pollute the local environment. Modern-day scien tific stations have variously-sized footprints of buildings and tracks, and legacies of contaminants, particularly oils spills. On some islands, alien species have established and there is a range of impacts associated with such taxa ranging from transient to extensive, permanent transformation of ecosystems. Such impacts are being confounded by human-induced climate change. By projection, it is expected chat both direct and indirect human impact will continue into the future. It is appropriate to plan all future human activity in ways that will minimise further burden on these ecosystems.

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Subantarctic hitchhikers: expeditioners as vectors for the introduction of alien organisms

Cited by 151 publications

References 18 publications

Continent-wide risk assessment for the establishment of nonindigenous species in Antarctica

Continent-wide risk assessment for the establishment of nonindigenous species in Antarctica

Timber transported to Antarctica: a potential and undesirable carrier for alien fungi and insects

Human impacts on sub-Antarctic terrestrial environments

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