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Quantifying the propagule load associated with the construction of an Antarctic research station

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 October 2009

Jennifer E. Lee  and
Steven L. Chown
Jennifer E. Lee*
Affiliation:
Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa
Steven L. Chown
Affiliation:
Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa
*
*[email protected]
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Abstract

Although the impacts of biological invasions are widely appreciated, a bias exists in research effort to post dispersal processes because of the difficulties of measuring propagule pressure. Here we quantify the propagule pressure associated with the construction of a research station in Antarctica. Based on quantitative assessment of different classes of cargo, we predict that over 5000 seeds will be entrained during the period of building the station. Seeds from 34 taxa were identified, including known invasive species.

Keywords

dispersalinvasionHalley VIpropagule pressurerisk assessmentvector
Type
Biological Sciences
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 21 , Issue 5 , October 2009 , pp. 471 - 475
Copyright
Copyright © Antarctic Science Ltd 2009

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