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AnonymousInactive‘Warm’ species invading Antarctic
Scientists
are calling for action to prevent foreign species from taking hold in
Antarctica and wrecking the continent’s unique ecosystems.Despite
Antarctica’s inhospitable environment, non-native species introduced by
tourists, scientists and explorers are gaining a foothold.Species can
hitch a ride on ships and planes carrying visitors and supplies.A paper
on the matter tabled at the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in
Edinburgh met with “good agreement”.
It costs thousands and sometimes millions of dollars to try and get rid of something… prevention is better than a cureNeil Gilbert, Antarctica NZ
“Antarctica
has long been considered as an isolated continent with a harsh
environment. So the general perception has been that we don’t need to
worry about non-native species. We know better now,” Dr Gilbert,
environmental manager at Antarctica New Zealand, told BBC News.Male and
female North Atlantic spider crabs ( Hyas araneus ) have been found in
waters off the Antarctic Peninsula. Neil Gilbert says the species could
not have migrated such a great distance by its own accord.In addition,
a cosmopolitan species of grass, Poa annua , is surviving on King
George Island, north of the Antarctic Peninsula.According to Dr
Gilbert, two principal factors are facilitating colonisation of
Antarctic habitats by foreign species: the increased numbers of people
travelling to the continent and climate change.Visitor growth
“There
are more and more people going to Antarctica and we know that people
and ships and planes carry plant seeds and other non-native species,”
Dr Gilbert explained.”The Antarctic Peninsula region is warming more
quickly than anywhere else on the planet. Those species capable of
surviving in polar climates are more likely to survive in a less harsh
climate.”More than 26,000 international tourists visit Antarctica each
year and numbers grow by the thousand each season.Dr Gilbert said: “I
think we can say with some confidence that the [treaty] meeting has
recognised this as a really important issue, that there is a need for
research.”We don’t know much about what species are in the marine
environment around Antarctica. We’ve got to get a better handle on what
is there, so that we know what is native and non-native.”Secondly, we
need to know what are the vectors by which all this material is being
brought in.”
Code of conduct
Those
behind the motion presented at the meeting are to work on developing a
code of conduct related to the introduction of foreign species -a set
of minimum standards to which Antarctic visitors should abide.However,
there is still no consensus on what to do with non-native species that
have already arrived and those that could arrive in future.”It’s a
challenging question. In some cases, management – trying to contain
them – may be the best option. The chances are that the North Atlantic
spider crab is already established,” Dr Gilbert said.”It costs
thousands and sometimes millions of dollars to try to get rid of
something. One of the things we have been pressing at this meeting is
that prevention is better than a cure.”Dr Gilbert said proposals would
also need to cover the transfer of species between isolated – and often
fragile – ecosystems within Antarctica.The Antarctic Treaty’s Committee
for Environmental Protection has agreed to make the issue of invasive
species a standing item on its agenda and to consider management
options at its next meeting, which will be held in India in April 2007.
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AuthorJune 27, 2006 at 11:11 AM
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