Antarctic tourists bring negatives to the icy continent

Reuters via the Environmental News Network reports on the disturbing fact that visitors to Antarctica including scientists as well as tourists are hosts to things like seeds or insect eggs among other so-called alien species that could be detrimental to the changing continent. With the warming of the planet, these non-native plants and species could disrupt the native species already living there. Human visitors unknowingly carry minute plant spores, or food crumbs, or tiny insect eggs, that with the warming of the planet could survive and change the eco-system. Other larger animals such as rats if they should be carried and escape from boats could be very damaging.

"So far, invaders have bridgeheads on Antarctic islands ringing the continent, which have been getting warmer in recent decades. Among the most damaging were reindeer on South Georgia and rats and cats on Macquarie Island, said Dana Bergstrom of the Australian Antarctic Division, who leads an international research project entitled 'Aliens in Antarctica.'

Elsewhere in Antarctica, grass was found growing under a Japanese research hut. Invasive plants were found near a Russian station and a wide variety of fungi near an Australian station."

Read the full story: Antarctica on alert for alien invaders