Stowaway Seeds Carried By Unwitting Humans Are Colonizing Antarctica
Seeds are surreptitiously hitching a ride on human visitors to Antarctica, threatening to sow invasive species in one of the last remaining pristine environments on Earth. About 20 percent of visitors to the frozen continent bring stowaway seeds on their clothing and luggage, according to a new study. The research highlights the potential risk to Antarctica's indigenous species, but also the impressive traveling abilities of plants. Researchers led by Steven Chown of Stellenbosch University in South Africa vacuumed the clothing, shoes, camera bags and walking poles of 853 Antarctic visitors during the International Polar Year in 2007-2008. They figure that represented about 2 percent of the continent's visitors that year. Related ArticlesAntarctica's Frozen Lake Vostok, Isolated for 20 Million Years, Breached By Russian DrillsGoogle Street View Expands to Antarctica, Is Now on All Seven ContinentsHow Robots Will Do the Heavy Lifting in the Sahara and AntarcticaTagsScience, Rebecca Boyle, antarctic, antarctic exploration,...