Comments on: Scientists and tourists bring thousands of alien seeds into Antarctica http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2012/03/05/scientists-and-tourists-bring-thousands-of-alien-seeds-into-antarctica/ Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:00:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: ray4ausa http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2012/03/05/scientists-and-tourists-bring-thousands-of-alien-seeds-into-antarctica/#comment-14476 ray4ausa Sun, 11 Mar 2012 00:55:45 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=6489#comment-14476 ALL PEOPLE AND BAGGAGE visiting or working on Antarctic should be quarantined and inspected AT THE EXPENSE OF EACH PERSON. Nothing in or out without documentation. I am amazed this was not part of the protocol to start with. I am amazed that such lax protocols are allowed ot continue. If they use the excuse that "it can't be done" then I can show them in one day exactly how to accomplish a complete reversal in this situation. All they have to do is watch how the oil company's inspect their offshore personnel. These folks do not miss a thing. If you are caught with ANY BANNED ARTICLE YOU ARE FIRED, ON THE SPOT. If you are caught with ONE screw , you are fired, one nut, fired. A very simple method, if research is done by trustworthy and competent people all you need to tell them is, BEFORE YOU SET FOOT ON Antarctic ice YOU WILL BE SEARCHED AND PROCESSED, NO EXCEPTIONS. Then work can be done and Antarctic will remain a frozen wilderness that all the country's working there has sworn to protect. ALL PEOPLE AND BAGGAGE visiting or working on Antarctic should be quarantined and inspected AT THE EXPENSE OF EACH PERSON. Nothing in or out without documentation. I am amazed this was not part of the protocol to start with. I am amazed that such lax protocols are allowed ot continue. If they use the excuse that “it can’t be done” then I can show them in one day exactly how to accomplish a complete reversal in this situation. All they have to do is watch how the oil company’s inspect their offshore personnel. These folks do not miss a thing. If you are caught with ANY BANNED ARTICLE YOU ARE FIRED, ON THE SPOT. If you are caught with ONE screw , you are fired, one nut, fired. A very simple method, if research is done by trustworthy and competent people all you need to tell them is, BEFORE YOU SET FOOT ON Antarctic ice YOU WILL BE SEARCHED AND PROCESSED, NO EXCEPTIONS. Then work can be done and Antarctic will remain a frozen wilderness that all the country’s working there has sworn to protect.

]]> By: davet http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2012/03/05/scientists-and-tourists-bring-thousands-of-alien-seeds-into-antarctica/#comment-14475 davet Fri, 09 Mar 2012 01:07:50 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=6489#comment-14475 Am I to understand that the invasive species' are adapting more rapidly than natives in such a harsh environment? You noted that some of the seeds derive from plants in similar climates. Are these the ones that have gotten a foothold? How are the ones from milder climates also surviving ? Facinating story of adaptation. Am I to understand that the invasive species’ are adapting more rapidly than natives in such a harsh environment? You noted that some of the seeds derive from plants in similar climates. Are these the ones that have gotten a foothold? How are the ones from milder climates also surviving ? Facinating story of adaptation.

]]> By: Jimr http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2012/03/05/scientists-and-tourists-bring-thousands-of-alien-seeds-into-antarctica/#comment-14474 Jimr Thu, 08 Mar 2012 23:17:57 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=6489#comment-14474 I would like to see some pictures of this foliage, kudzu, knotweed etc growing in antarticia. I would like to see some pictures of this foliage, kudzu, knotweed etc growing in antarticia.

]]> By: S Kitaji http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2012/03/05/scientists-and-tourists-bring-thousands-of-alien-seeds-into-antarctica/#comment-14473 S Kitaji Wed, 07 Mar 2012 02:49:30 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=6489#comment-14473 We are a patr of ecosystems and we have a responsibility to pretect our planet. Of course alien invasions happen not only in Antarctica but in ohther regions including Japan in which I live. We should never forget that we have the ability to keep our planet from being devastated and also to devastate it. We are a patr of ecosystems and we have a responsibility to pretect our planet. Of course alien invasions happen not only in Antarctica but in ohther regions including Japan in which I live. We should never forget that we have the ability to keep our planet from being devastated and also to devastate it.

]]> By: Ed Yong http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2012/03/05/scientists-and-tourists-bring-thousands-of-alien-seeds-into-antarctica/#comment-14472 Ed Yong Tue, 06 Mar 2012 14:28:24 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=6489#comment-14472 It's the scale. We have a greater responsibility because we travel all over the world, we do it regularly, and we do it in massive numbers. And the result is that native species get displaced, biodiversity falls, and ecosystems become more homogenised around the world. Sure, one could argue that we're just part of the ecosystem and we should therefore do what we like. But the result would be "a world of rats and sparrows" and little else. And of course, the critical difference is that we're aware of what we're doing and have the ability to change it. It’s the scale. We have a greater responsibility because we travel all over the world, we do it regularly, and we do it in massive numbers. And the result is that native species get displaced, biodiversity falls, and ecosystems become more homogenised around the world. Sure, one could argue that we’re just part of the ecosystem and we should therefore do what we like. But the result would be “a world of rats and sparrows” and little else.

And of course, the critical difference is that we’re aware of what we’re doing and have the ability to change it.

]]> By: G Pares http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2012/03/05/scientists-and-tourists-bring-thousands-of-alien-seeds-into-antarctica/#comment-14471 G Pares Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:36:35 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=6489#comment-14471 If a wild animal carries a seed in its skin and take it to a new environment, we would be talking about a fantastic case of adaptation and how suprising is mother nature. How is this different? I find hard to tell why this should be seen as bad. Aren't we part of the ecosystem? It's not even a targeted invasion but an involuntary one... If a wild animal carries a seed in its skin and take it to a new environment, we would be talking about a fantastic case of adaptation and how suprising is mother nature. How is this different? I find hard to tell why this should be seen as bad. Aren’t we part of the ecosystem? It’s not even a targeted invasion but an involuntary one…

]]> By: K.J. Kaye http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2012/03/05/scientists-and-tourists-bring-thousands-of-alien-seeds-into-antarctica/#comment-14470 K.J. Kaye Tue, 06 Mar 2012 06:28:33 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=6489#comment-14470 Predictable, stupid, selfish, and irresponsible. Predictable, stupid, selfish, and irresponsible.

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