Methodology:

Leihy et al. 2023 recently published a dataset containing occurrence records for introduced and invasive alien species in the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic islands. These 218 Antarctic records, from Leihy et al. 2023, were used as a foundation on which to build the current dataset.

A strict criterion was applied to these records, removing records that a) were domestic animals deliberately introduced (e.g. dogs, pigs, hamsters), b) where the non-native species was immediately removed or destroyed upon introduction (e.g. non-native species inadvertently transported to Antarctica with cargo or food that was immediately destroyed upon unpacking at a scientific research station), c) where the non-native species record was for a single individual where there was no evidence it had survived in-situ and may have arrived in Antarctica already dead (e.g. a record for a spider skeleton caught in a wind trap outside Marble Point), or d) where the evidence from the original source was too unreliable or weak for it to be included (e.g. potential contamination or mid-identification).

This process retained 115 of the original Leihy et al. 2023 records.

Between 2023-10-01 and 2024-08-01 a detailed review of the Antarctic non-native species literature, including recent Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting reports, was conducted. This added another 125 records to the dataset that met the above criteria. The dataset includes deliberate introductions (i.e. transplant experiments) to the Antarctic environment. It is acknowledged that there are likely records that should be included that have been missed, particularly if the observations were published in books that are hard to access or in an article or report not in English.

The sources for the 240 records were checked, using the original reference wherever possible, and information was confirmed and/or added on:

-occurrence status

-category of introduction

-taxonomic details

-latitude and longitude of observation site

-further location details (including Antarctic Conservation Biogeographic Region, and which [if any] Antarctic Specially Protected Area the record occurs within)

-observation year, publish year and reference/s

-eradication year (if relevant)

-survival time

-notes on occurrence

Data quality:

The information for each occurrence record was carefully checked by members of the project team, and where anything was unclear a discussion was had. Uncertainties are reflected in the 'occurenceRemarks' field.

NA's are included where the information in that cell is non-applicable (for example, 'eradictionYear' for records where the species is still currently present). Cells with 'no data' mean that the relevant information was not available in the listed references or was so unclear that it could not be included with any certainty.