Chown, Steven L; Huiskes, Ad H L; Gremmen, Niek J M; Lee, Jennifer E; Terauds, Aleks; Crosbie, Kim; Frenot, Yves; Hughes, Kevin A; Imura, Satoshi; Kiefer, Kate; Lebouvier, Marc; Raymond, Ben; Tsujimoto, Megumu; Ware, Chris; Van de Vijver, Bart; Bergstrom, Dana Michelle (2012): Seed dispersal characteristics to polar regions by means of visitors [dataset publication series]. PANGAEA, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.808344, Supplement to: Chown, Steven L; Huiskes, Ad H L; Gremmen, Niek J M; Lee, Jennifer E; Terauds, Aleks; Crosbie, Kim; Frenot, Yves; Hughes, Kevin A; Imura, Satoshi; Kiefer, K; Lebouvier, Marc; Raymond, Ben; Tsujimoto, Megumu; Ware, Chris; Van de Vijver, Bart; Bergstrom, Dana Michelle (2012): Continent-wide risk assessment for the establishment of nonindigenous species in Antarctica. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109(13), 4938-4943, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1119787109
Always quote citation above when using data! You can download the citation in several formats below.
Abstract:
Invasive alien species are among the primary causes of biodiversity change globally, with the risks thereof 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.
Project(s):
Comment:
Data extracted in the frame of a joint ICSTI/PANGAEA IPY effort, see http://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.150150
License:
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC-BY-3.0)
Size:
4 datasets
Download Data
Datasets listed in this publication series
- Chown, SL; Huiskes, AHL; Gremmen, NJM et al. (2012): (Table S6) Percentage of visitor items containing seeds. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.808343
- Chown, SL; Huiskes, AHL; Gremmen, NJM et al. (2012): (Table S4) Number and proportion of visitors that had been to polar/alpine regions in the 12 mo prior to travelling to the Antarctic. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.808341
- Chown, SL; Huiskes, AHL; Gremmen, NJM et al. (2012): (Table S5) Families of the seeds found on visitors to Antarctica in the first season (2007-2008) of the IPY. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.808342
- Chown, SL; Huiskes, AHL; Gremmen, NJM et al. (2012): (Table S2) Species of seeds that occur in the Arctic and/or sub-Antarctic identified on visitors. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.808340