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Impact of anthropogenic transportation to Antarctica on alien seed viability

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Abstract

Antarctic ecosystems are at risk from the introduction of invasive species. The first step in the process of invasion is the transportation of alien species to Antarctic in a viable state. However, the effect of long-distance human-mediated dispersal, over different timescales, on propagule viability is not well known. We assessed the viability of Poa trivialis seeds transported to Antarctica from the UK, South Africa and Australia by ship or by ship and aircraft. Following transportation to the Antarctic Treaty area, no reduction in seed viability was found, despite journey times lasting up to 284 days and seeds experiencing temperatures as low as −1.5°C. This work confirms that human-mediated transport may overcome the dispersal barrier for some propagules, and highlights the need for effective pre-departure biosecurity measures.

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Acknowledgments

This paper contributes to the International Polar Year ‘Aliens in Antarctica’ and SCAR EBA (Evolution and Biodiversity in Antarctica) research programmes and the British Antarctic Survey’s Polar Science for Planet Earth core programme EO-LTMS (Environment Office—Long Term Monitoring and Survey).

The authors would like to thank Richard Hall, John Loines, Anna Malaos and Erika Nortjie for assistance with seed germination work, Peter Fretwell for map preparation, Steven Chown for insightful discussions, Pete Convey and Niek Gremmen for reviewing early drafts of the manuscript and P. A. M. Turner, R. I. L. Smith and one anonymous reviewer for helpful comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK

    K. A. Hughes

  2. Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa

    J. E. Lee

  3. Australian Antarctic Division, Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, 203 Channel Highway, Kingston, Tasmania, 7050, Australia

    C. Ware, K. Kiefer & D. M. Bergstrom

  4. Institute of Antarctic and Southern Ocean Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 77, Hobart, 7001, Australia

    C. Ware, K. Kiefer & D. M. Bergstrom

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  1. K. A. Hughes
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  2. J. E. Lee
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  3. C. Ware
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  4. K. Kiefer
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  5. D. M. Bergstrom
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Correspondence to K. A. Hughes.

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Hughes, K.A., Lee, J.E., Ware, C. et al. Impact of anthropogenic transportation to Antarctica on alien seed viability. Polar Biol 33, 1125–1130 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-010-0801-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-010-0801-4

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