Potential of Bioinvasion by Human Activities in the Antarctic Marine Environment

Abstract

Expansion of human activities increases the likelihood of species introductions in Antarctica. Considering this fact we studied the main vectors and pathways of potential introductions in the King George Island. ree main areas of human activities were considered: tourism, shing and scienti c research. We conducted a literature review and a survey of statistical data on sites of human activities in Antarctica. We observed that the transport of people and goods by human activities increased during the period under analysis. e places most visited by tourists on King George Island were scienti c stations. e routes taken by several types of cruises departed mainly from ports located in Chile and Argentina. So, there is a greater likelihood of possible introductions of alien species from southern South America. e scienti c stations Bellingshausen, President Eduardo Frei and Henryk Arctowski are the oldest in operation; they must be targets of investigation for a possible presence of non-native species, since time and human activities are essential factors in the processes of bioinvasion. e increase of licensed vessels and trawlers on King George Island, also enhances the risk of possible introductions of species in the marine environment. erefore, this study is important to make inferences about the presence of introduced species besides contributing to avoid possible future introductions in the Antarctic marine environment.