Global Warming Causes Alien Invasion in Antarctica
Mon, Jan 28, 2008
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Tourists and global warming are setting the stage for an alien invasion of Antarctica.
Photo by Andrew Mandemaker
Alien species have had a significant negative impact on the ecology of many other continents. The environmental problems caused by alien species, such as pigs and rabbits, in large sections of the world has been studied at length. Now, one of the world’s last untouched places is in danger of becoming home to introduced species, with potentially disastrous consequences.
For now, Antarctica is still somewhat protected by its cold climate. But as temperatures rise, this safety net begins to fall away. One of the effects of global warming has been to make the Antarctic peninsula, the bit of the continent that curls closest to South America and has slightly warmer temperatures, a more suitable habitat for outside wildlife.
This means the ground nesting birds, seals, and whales that populate Antarctic territory could soon be joined by mice and rats brought by ships carrying tourists and scientists to the continent. Mice, rats, and cats have already overrun Macquarie Island in Australia’s sub-Antarctic territory. The rodents could decimate the populations of ground nesting birds as they have when introduced into many environments before, such as the Pacific islands.
But animals aren’t the only threat to the Antarctic ecosystem. Scientists fear that if global warming causes the continent’s climate to thaw out, introduced plant species could take over. One species of grass, agrostis stolonifera, is a particular threat. Dana Bergstrom, part of the Australian Antarctic Division and head of a research project on alien species in Antarctica, said: “It’s a species that gets everywhere, it’s already on most of the Antarctic islands.” She said that if the species gets a toehold on the continent “it would just create lawns.”
Bergstrom blames plant seeds, spores, and insect eggs that attach to the clothes of scientists and tourists for the introduction of most species. The organisms find their way in despite strict bans on importing most types of plants and animal products. She said: “Antarctica is the last bastion of a pristine environment compared to the rest of the world. It has been isolated by the southern ocean — people are starting to break that barrier.”
Even with a still chilly environment, several alien species are cropping up on the continent. One sample from a small Antarctic pond found eight organisms previously unknown there.
Source: Reuters
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2 Trackbacks For This Post
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Dear Kitty. Some blog :: Videos on Antarctic animals :: January :: 2008 Says:
January 29th, 2008 at 1:41 am[...] blog has videos about what they are doing in the Antarctic; with captions in Dutch and [...]
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The Mystery of the Murdered Sea Mammals : Environmental News Blog | Environment News | Environmental Graffiti Says:
January 29th, 2008 at 4:24 pm[...] The Galapagos Islands are world famous for their environment. [...]
January 29th, 2008 at 12:37 am
Serious inquirey why dont we just develop a genetic virus to kill of mice and rats and roaches and mosquitoes and ticks
January 29th, 2008 at 2:12 am
Hi well I know it’s a great concern to the planet but I’m afraid it’s too late to do any thing about it. they were warned years back but all we got was your talking rubbish. leave it to the experts, don’t hear from them now. we are at the moment waiting for the high winds and heavy rain falls which will be coming, earthquakes will be around america india and also japan. tsunami waves will reach between 5-6oo and could rise in the next 9-10 years the sea bed is getting hotter bringing the rare mamal life and fish that earth has not recorded to the surface.naxodi- sabola- erendu-waluma.(asegewn-rendi-falutim-peritum-zythea-purotami (sentient words from another world,A.G
January 30th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
The earth and it’s organisms have a remarkable ability to adapt. Even within a few years of climate change, new species are popping up. I think it’s too early to say if this is good or bad. We are all reluctant to change, especially when mankind is the cause of it.
December 4th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Much like the (GRD) great republican depression, and possibly caused by the same morons, global warming is not something we can avoid! Global warming will warp the American status quo with gut wrenching paradigm shifts in lifestyles. The GRD will smash all existing rules of finance with the introduction of the “Americo” money. Global warming will kill off tens of thousands of North Americans at a time through crop failures, food shortages, and climate changes. The GRD will cause deprivations on massive scale for those not close to the land, the cash dependent apartment and condo dwellers will starve in the streets. The people already living in tent cities, cars and vans on the streets will ominously disappear due to lack if cash! Global warming comes with unstable stormy and unpredictable but mostly destructive weather, not good for anyone. The Mayans quit their calendar at 2012 – an omen at least for humanity run amok!
December 23rd, 2008 at 5:45 am
YES, BUT IT STARTED IN THE 1970′S AND FROM OUR GLOBAL SEARCHES, WE’VE FOUND BY USEING DRONES AND OTHER AIR SEARCHES THAT THE CAUSE OF GLOBAL WARMING ARE LOCATED IN CREVICES IN DIFFERENT CONTINENTS AROUND THE WORLD. USEING THE ROTATION OF EARTH AS A TRIGGER. AS THE WORLD TURNS AND A CERTAIN PEREIMETER COMES INTO VIEW AT A CERTAIN POINT THE BEAM IS ACTIVATED AND AS THE WORLD CONTINUES TO ROTATE THAT BEAM DEACTIVATES AND ANOTHER ONE ACTIVATES TO KEEP THE PROCESS OF THE BEAMS ACTIVATED TO WEAKEN THE OZONE AROUND THE CLOCK CONTINOUS. MY TEAMS TAKING MY ADVICE AND I HAVE BEEN TOYING WITH THE ACTIVATED BEAMS,= RESULTS THE GLACIERS STOPPED MELTING 28 DAYS OFF AND ON AND ALL THE SALTWATER STARTED FREEZING UP. YES THE TECHNOLOGY FOR SOMETHING THIS BIG IS OPERATED BY ALIENS AND HAS BEEN OPERATIONAL BY THEM ALL THE TIME. MAN DOES’NT HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY TO WEAKEN THE OZONE OR CHANGE THE CLIMATE AND THE EARTH IS’NT IN JEOPARDY, ONLY ALL BUT ONE SPECIE ON EARTH AND THE UNIVERSE. HAVE A NICE DAY AND ITS ABOUT TIME SOME OF YOU WOKE UP TO THE FACTS. MIKE