Abstract
Until recently the Antarctic continent and Peninsula have been little impacted by non-native species, compared to other regions of the Earth. However, reports of species introductions are increasing as awareness of biological invasions as a major conservation threat, within the context of increased human activities and climate change scenarios, has grown within the Antarctic community. Given the recent increase in documented reports, here we provide an up-to-date inventory of known terrestrial non-native species introductions, including those subsequently removed since the 1990s, within the Antarctic Treaty area. This builds on earlier syntheses of records published in the mid-2000s, which focused largely on the sub-Antarctic islands, given the dearth of literature available at that time from the continental and maritime Antarctic regions. Reports of non-native species established in the natural environment (i.e. non-synanthropic) are mainly located within the Antarctic Peninsula region and Scotia Arc, with Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, the most impacted area. Non-native plants have generally been removed from sites of introduction, but no established invertebrates have yet been subject to any eradication attempt, despite a recent increase in reports. Legislation within the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty has not kept pace with environmental best practice, potentially presenting difficulties for the practical aspects of non-native species control and eradication. The success of any eradication attempt may be affected by management practices and the biology of the target species under polar conditions. Practical management action is only likely to succeed with greater co-operation and improved communication and engagement by nations and industries operating in the region.
Highlights
Given the recent increase in documented reports, here we provide an up-to-date inventory of known terrestrial non-native species introductions, including those subsequently removed since the 1990s, within the Antarctic Treaty area
It is well recognised that the implementation of effective biosecurity practices is the most cost-effective method of reducing non-native species establishment and subsequent impacts (Chown et al 2012b) (for examples see the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP) and Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) ‘Checklists for supply chain managers of National Antarctic Programmes for the reduction in risk of transfer of non-native species’, available at: https://www.comnap.aq/SitePages/ checklists.aspx)
The level to which biosecurity measures are implemented by national operators and the tourism industry in the Antarctic has not been rigorously assessed or tested
Summary
The vulnerability of Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems to human-induced environmental impacts and changes has been a focus of recent research attention (e.g. Bargagli 2005; Frenot et al 2005; Kerry and Riddle 2009; Tin et al 2009; Hughes and Convey 2010, 2012; Cowan et al 2011; Chown et al 2012a) and human-assisted establishment of nonnative species, both in the context of those introduced from beyond the Antarctic region and in the movement of Antarctic biota between different eco-regions within the continent, has been identified as one of the most pervasive threats to indigenous ecosystems (Hughes and Convey 2010; Chown et al 2012b; Terauds et al 2012). No terrestrial species introduced to the Antarctic continent intentionally (mainly for scientific research reasons) have been formally identified as invasive (Smith 1996), but intentional introductions to most subAntarctic islands, before the adoption of legislation prohibiting or controlling this activity, have resulted in substantial impacts (see Convey and Lebouvier 2009). The first non-native invertebrate to be reported was the Collembolan Hypogastrura viatica found on Deception Island in the 1940s (Hack 1949) These findings suggest that the introduction and at least transient establishment of nonnative species is likely to have been occurring for as long as humans have been inhabiting suitable Antarctic locations, and possibly from the early nineteenth century when sealers first visited the northern Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
