CANBERRA, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Ancient pathogens emerging from melting ice and permafrost could cause major environmental damage, an Australian research has warned.
In a study published on Friday, researchers from Flinders University ran computer simulations that show the release of only 1 percent of dormant pathogens could cause the widespread loss of host organisms around the world.
It is one of the first studies to predict the potential damage caused by the re-emergence of dormant pathogens from melting glaciers and permafrost.
In order to do so accurately, researchers constructed simulated experiments whereby pathogens from the past invade communities of hosts. The results were then compared against communities where no invasions occurred.
They found that 3 percent of the pathogens became dominant in their new environment, and 1 percent caused unpredictable results, including wiping out one-third of the host species.
"We found that invading pathogens could often survive, evolve and, in a few cases, become exceptionally persistent and dominant in the community, causing either substantial losses or changes in the number of living species," lead author Giovanni Strona said in a media release.
"Our findings, therefore, suggest that unpredictable threats so far confined to science fiction could, in reality, pose a serious risk as powerful drivers of ecological damage."
His collaborator, Corey Bradshaw, said the findings show the risk of invasion from dormant pathogens is not negligible.
"As a society, we need to understand the potential risk posed by these ancient microbes so we can prepare for any unintended consequences of their release into the modern world," he said.
"The results tell us that the risk is no longer simply a fantasy that we shouldn't be prepared to defend against." ■
