Ecology and management of invasive plants in the sub-Antarctic and Antarctic regions: evidence and synthesis from Macquarie Island

The Antarctic is an extreme environment for plants. Several invasive plant species, however, have invaded the sub-Antarctic Southern Ocean islands and increasingly threaten the vulnerability of maritime and continental Antarctica, particularly with changes in climate. We provide an overview of issue...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Plant ecology & diversity Vol. 15; no. 5-6; pp. 183 - 198
Main Authors:	Sindel, Brian M., Wilson, Susan C., Wilson, Brian R., Hawking, Kirsten L., Zahid, Waqas, Iqbal, Ali, Williams, Laura K., Knox, Oliver G.G., Coleman, Michael J., Kristiansen, Paul
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Abingdon Taylor & Francis 05-12-2022 Taylor & Francis Ltd
Subjects:	Alien species Antarctic zone Cerastium fontanum Climate change Ecology Extreme cold extreme environment Extreme environments Extreme values Flowers & plants Global warming Human motion Indigenous plants Introduced species Invasive plants Invasive species Invasiveness Islands Literature reviews Macquarie Island Plant species Poa annua Seed banks Seeds Soils Stellaria media sub-Antarctic islands Macquarie Island Antarctica
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Summary:	The Antarctic is an extreme environment for plants. Several invasive plant species, however, have invaded the sub-Antarctic Southern Ocean islands and increasingly threaten the vulnerability of maritime and continental Antarctica, particularly with changes in climate. We provide an overview of issues to consider with regard to the impact, ecology and management of non-native plants in the Antarctic, focusing on knowledge gained and recent research results from the sub-Antarctic with possible application to Antarctica. We provide a brief review of literature and bring together experience and previously unpublished research with Poa annua and Stellaria media on Macquarie Island. While no one set of biological characteristics predicts plant invasiveness in the sub-Antarctic, all are adapted to survive extreme cold conditions and persistence is enabled through large and long-lived soil seed banks. Ecological drivers for invasion include accidental human introductions and continuing movement, along with animal and other disturbance to soil. The invasive cold-tolerant plant species now prevalent on sub-Antarctic islands also pose a threat to Antarctica due to a warming climate and so efforts should continue to prevent further spread, while developing effective, low-impact control and eradication options to protect these high-value extreme ecosystems.
ISSN:	1755-0874 1755-1668
DOI:	10.1080/17550874.2022.2144777