In the sub-Antarctic Islands Frenot et al. (2005) already recorded 108 alien vascular plants and likewise the most abundant families were Poaceae (39), Asteraceae (20). They have not only survived but also spread and successfully competed with native species (Frenot et al. 1999, 2001; Gremmen and Smith 1999; Gremmen et al. 1998), thus they may serve as a potential source of exotic biota to the ameliorating maritime Antarctic. Our study clearly demonstrates that many diaspores can be quite easily unintentionally AZD5582 cost transported in good condition to the

Antarctic (Hughes et al. 2010a, b). After crossing the dispersal barrier, the next question is whether these species would be able to cross the next philological barrier and survive in harsh conditions of the polar regions. According to Chown et al. (2012a) the region of the Antarctic Peninsula and Scotia Arc archipelagos are predicted to have

the highest risk of alien plant establishment, due to such factors like annual cumulative degree days for plant (measure of environmental suitability), risk index (based on propagule pressure and origin, and climate suitability of the ice-free area). Our results are in agreement with Chown’s et al. (2012a) estimates. Thus, spatial location (at the Antarctic Peninsula region) and quite intensive human pressure: both tourist and expeditioner (Chwedorzewska and Korczak 2010), favourable microclimate condition (Kejna 2008), big ice-free area (about 25 km2), newly exposed big glacial forelands, put “Arctowski” oasis in the ON-01910 research buy highest risk group. Substantiation of this assessment is provided by rapid grow and spread of population of P. annua (Olech and Chwedorzewska 2011). Thus, we can predict that in a very near future next flexible plant species characterized by a very wide ecological

amplitude, high adaptation capabilities and diverse ways of reproduction may conquer changing environmental conditions and colonize the “Arctowski” oasis. Estimated risk of this incident is very high. Acknowledgments This research project was supported by the Ministry of Scientific Research and Higher Education Grant IPY/27/2007. The authors would like to thank all persons involved in collecting materials Tolmetin during the XXX, XXXI and XXXII Polish Antarctic Expeditions. The authors would like to thank Prof. Ewa Zastawniak-Birkenmajer for the access to the collection of seeds and herbarium. Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits any use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and the source are credited. References Bannister P (2007) A touch of frost? Cold hardiness of plants in the southern hemisphere. N Z J Bot 45:1–33CrossRef Bednarek-Ochyra H, Ochyra R, Vana J, BMS202 purchase Lewis-Smith RI (2000) The liverwort flora of Antarctica.