By Victoria Gill
Science correspondent.
Victoria Gill is the image source.
There are species from around the world that are threatening the pristine marine environment in the southernmost part of the world.
The study concluded that research, fishing and tourist vessels visit the region frequently.
It was found that ships from 1,500 ports around the globe visit the island.
"These ships travel all around the world," said Arlie McCarthy from the University of Cambridge.
It means that almost anywhere could be a potential source for invaders. She said that non-native species can change the environment.
"They can create new habitats that would make it harder for the amazing animals in the South Pole to find their own place to live."
Victoria Gill is the image source.
The image caption is.
Many endemic species that have been isolated for millions of years are found on the coast of the penguins.
The scientists say that more stringent measures are needed to make sure that ships don't bring species that could disrupt the environment.
Satellite data and international shipping databases were used to calculate the weight of traffic in the British and Cambridge surveys.
Ms McCarthy said that they don't just have one home port that they go back and forth to.
The global movement of vessels links the rest of the world with parts of the frozen continent.
Any marine species that can cling to the hull of the ship and survive the journey to Antarctica could pose an invasion threat.
Creatures, including mussels, barnacles, crabs and algae, attach themselves to the hull in a process called "biofouling".
Arlie McCarthy is the image source.
The image caption is.
There is a water discharge outlet on the hull of the research vessel that can be seen with the naked eye.
In polar waters, mussels can spread quickly and threaten marine life. The chemistry of the water around them is altered by their water filters.
"This is the last place in the world where we don't have marine invaders," said Ms McCarthy. We have an opportunity to protect it.
The native species ofAntarctica have been isolated for the last 30 million years.
One of the biggest threats to its biodiversity is the invasion of non-native species. The chance of losing a species that is completely unique is much higher in the Antarctic.
Tourist ships have to follow the same rules as tourism in the region. The study showed that tourism accounted for 70% of visits to the locations.
Victoria Gill is the image source.
More than 70,000 people visited the region in the season that ended in March. The industry has been disrupted by the Pandemic, but the number of visitors has been increasing steadily since the first few hundred visitors from Argentina arrived in the South Shetland Islands in the 1950s.
Researchers say that it is an increase that has consequences.
Ms McCarthy said that there are other kinds of human impact on the environment, whether it is accidental release of waste, pollution, or noise.
Prof Peck said that the tourism was positive and negative. They are a big part of the number of visits to the continent.
The tour operators take a lot of security measures.
The image is from the BAS.
The image caption is.
Sniffer dogs are used to search for rats or mice on research vessels.
A small group of recognised "gateway ports" in the southern part of the world are the focus of a small amount of biosecurity measures.
Since the study showed that many more ports around the world are connected to the region, the British Antarctic Survey is calling for improved environmental protection measures. This means inspecting the ship hull with cameras.
As ocean temperatures continue to rise due to climate change, this is particularly important. If we leave things as they are, something will arrive.
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There are invasive species.
The South Pole.
Shipping industry.
The environment.
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