The Antarctic Seed Bank

by **Antarctic Isles** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 4:43 pm

What is a seed bank?

Operated by the ARI
Antarctic Research Institute

A seed bank is a place where plant seeds are kept in cold, non-humid conditions, protecting them from any hazard outside and allowing their replanting if needed. Seeds are taken from a seed bank if their species is in danger of extinction, a thing that may happen due to natural disasters, diseases, wars, or any other reason.

Why are the Antarctic Isles an ideal location for a seed bank?
The isles are located in an extremely remote area, preventing wars or other human-made threats from affecting the seeds. The area's weather, which is extremely cold, makes the cooling of seeds easy, and allows them to last a long time even in a case of an electrical blackout. In addition, the area is considered geologically stable, meaning earthquakes do not commonly happen in it (in fact, no destructive earthquakes were recorded in the isles' history).

Features of the seed bank

Seeds are kept at a temperature of -18°C, decelerating any biological processes happening in the seeds to a minimal pace.
The seed bank is located in an underground nuclear shelter, making seeds practically invulnerable.
Air purifiers installed in the bank prevent any unwanted air-particles from entering.
The seed bank is operated by professional botanists working in the Antarctic Research Institute, ensuring seeds will get suitable treatment.
A greenhouse located in the isles allows the replanting of seeds, preventing their DNA from degrading.
An automatic system prevents water from entering the seed bank, even in a cases of heavy rain or flooding.
The bank is guarded by armed soldiers 24 hours daily, 7 days a week, to ensure only authorized people enter it.

Costs
Operating a seed bank isn't cheap - our air purifiers and freezers consume lots of electricity, and the employees maintaining the place also need to be paid. Therefore, we charge an annual fee of $1,000 per seed envelope stored in the bank.

Sending a seed packet to the bank
Seeds shall be sent by sea (there are no airports in the isles), in a sealed plastic bag, after being dried to a moisture of 5%-7%.
A label including the following information should be attached to the bag:

Code: Select all: [b]Sender information (name of sender/company/scientific institute/country and address)[/b]: [b]Payment information (credit card/bank account number and bank name)[/b]: [b]Common name of the plant[/b]: [b]Botanical name of the plant[/b]: [b]Origin of plant[/b]: [b]More information/requirements[/b]: [b]How many envelopes of seeds are you sending (note: an envelope can contain many seeds)[/b]?

by **Antarctic Isles** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 4:44 pm

List of seeds kept in the bank (Click on serial number for more information)

by **Antarctic Isles** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 7:47 am

We now accept seeds from foreign nations, companies and private farmers.

by **Wilfred Test** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 9:25 am

The government would like to store 1,000 seeds of the rare 'Purple Bluecup', which is quickly spiralling into extinction. Money will be wired shortly.

by **Antarctic Isles** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 12:37 pm

The Antarctic Seed Bank is pleased with Wilfred Test's government intentions to store these rare plant's seeds in the bank. However, seeds stored in the bank need to be organized and catalogued. Therefore, we would like to kindly request the government of Wilfred Test to provide us with the following information:

Botanical name of the plant (if different than the common name):
Origin of plant:

Depending on the size of the Purple Bluecup's seeds, we expect the seeds to fit between 1 and 100 standard envelopes. This makes the annual fee a total of between $1,500 and $150,000.

Thank you for your cooperation,
Open for any requests or question,
Dr. Brian Sympathica, head of the Antarctic Seed Bank.

by **Ahtreil** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 12:56 pm

This is a great idea!

Just a question:

Does the seeds need to be classified as ''rare'', or can you just donate any sort of seed?

by **Antarctic Isles** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 1:22 pm

OOC: Definitely not. A seed can be stored just as a reserve, so if the species is suddenly in risk (due to an epidemic, natural disaster, etc.) it could be taken out.

by **Antarctic Isles** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 6:11 am

by **Wilfred Test** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 6:13 am

Antarctic Isles wrote:The Antarctic Seed Bank is pleased with Wilfred Test's government intentions to store these rare plant's seeds in the bank. However, seeds stored in the bank need to be organized and catalogued. Therefore, we would like to kindly request the government of Wilfred Test to provide us with the following information:
Botanical name of the plant (if different than the common name):
Origin of plant:

Depending on the size of the Purple Bluecup's seeds, we expect the seeds to fit between 1 and 100 standard envelopes. This makes the annual fee a total of between $1,500 and $150,000.

Thank you for your cooperation,
Open for any requests or question,
Dr. Brian Sympathica, head of the Antarctic Seed Bank.

Botanical Name: Violetta Zureatonnitis
Origin of Plant: Native to Wilfred Test. First catalogued WT -173.

Due to size, it will fill 100 envelopes. So we will wire the $150,000 required.

by **Runfin** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 6:31 am

Sender information (name of sender/company/scientific institute/country and address):Garry Tondron, President of Geo-Energy, 432 Nation Street Sandar City, Runfin
Payment information (credit card/bank account number and bank name):Runfinian Express Card Number:195424 814532 913853
Common plant name and botanical name:Runfinian StrawBerry, Sulfalite Trondronian
Origin of plant:Deep inside the Corravise Cave system miners found this rare fruit underneath a Iron vien.
Special requirements:The Fruit grows without soil and can grow in the packet so you must keep it at the lowest tempature you can

We want to send 5 Envelopes, Housing 50 seeds each

by **Ahtreil** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 6:45 am

Sender information (name of sender/company/scientific institute/country and address): Michael Blossom, main biologist at the Tierria University, 675 Hargath Street, Tierria
Payment information (credit card/bank account number and bank name): Ahtreil National Bank, Bank Account number 8765999483
Common plant name and botanical name: Ahtreilian Apples, A genetically modified version of ordinary apples. They are much sweeter than ordinary apples. They where created before the ban on genetical modifications on living organisms, but they are so popular here, so they can't stop selling them right away
Origin of plant: Laboratory 21, Tierrian university.
Special requirements: N/A

we want to send one envelope which will fit about 65 seeds.

by **Antarctic Isles** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 8:43 am

Mr. Garry Tondron, President of Geo-Energy, 432 Nation Street Sandar City, Runfin;
We thank you for your request, and are expecting the arrival of seeds. They will be kept at a temperature of -18°C, which has been proved to decelerate any any processes happening in the seeds to a minimum.

We would like to enquire one thing though - is Sulfalite Trondronian the botanical name of the Runfinian Strawberry, or are these two different types of seeds?

The annual fee for the seeds would be $7,500, which will be automatically taken from the account every year as long as you don't request us to stop the withdrawal of money.

Thank you,
Dr. Brian Sympathica, head of the Antarctic Seed Bank.

Mr. Michael Blossom, main biologist at the Tierria University, 675 Hargath Street, Tierria;
We thank you for your request, and are now expecting the arrival of seeds. Considering the apples' relative genetic similarity to the ordinary apple, they will be listed under the botanical name of the ordinary apple: Malus domestica.
A fee of $1,500 will be withdrawn of the account every year.

Thank you,
Dr. Brian Sympathica, head of the Antarctic Seed Bank.

by **Runfin** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 8:47 am

Antarctic Isles wrote:Mr. Garry Tondron, President of Geo-Energy, 432 Nation Street Sandar City, Runfin;
We thank you for your request, and are expecting the arrival of seeds. They will be kept at a temperature of -18°C, which has been proved to decelerate any any processes happening in the seeds to a minimum.

We would like to enquire one thing though - is Sulfalite Trondronian the botanical name of the Runfinian Strawberry, or are these two different types of seeds?

The annual fee for the seeds would be $7,500, which will be automatically taken from the account every year as long as you don't request us to stop the withdrawal of money.

Yes that is the Botanical Name for the Strawberies.

Thank you, The Seeds have been sent via Cargo Ship

by **Antarctic Isles** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 3:24 pm

Runfin wrote:
Antarctic Isles wrote:Mr. Garry Tondron, President of Geo-Energy, 432 Nation Street Sandar City, Runfin;
We thank you for your request, and are expecting the arrival of seeds. They will be kept at a temperature of -18°C, which has been proved to decelerate any any processes happening in the seeds to a minimum.

We would like to enquire one thing though - is Sulfalite Trondronian the botanical name of the Runfinian Strawberry, or are these two different types of seeds?

The annual fee for the seeds would be $7,500, which will be automatically taken from the account every year as long as you don't request us to stop the withdrawal of money.

Yes that is the Botanical Name for the Strawberies.

Thank you, The Seeds have been sent via Cargo Ship

The seeds have been added to our database.

by **Antarctic Isles** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 3:39 am

OOC: And..... Bump!

by **Savedland** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 4:41 am

Hello! Savedland would like to store a few seeds of our national flower.

Sender information (name of sender/company/scientific institute/country and address): National Bureau of Biological and Botanical Reaserch
Payment information (credit card/bank account number and bank name):National Savelish Bank, number: 000000001
Common plant name and botanical name: Solane/Floralis Solana Lazuli
Origin of plant: Northeastern Savedland
Special requirements: A Solane's roots tend to go extremly deep into the soil.
How many envelopes of seeds are you sending? 75 envelopes

Thank you.

N.B.B.B.R.

by **Britcan** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 4:46 am

The Government of Britcan wishes to donate $15,000,000 to this noble cause, we hope that this will allow more seeds to be stored for a lower price.

by **Antarctic Isles** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 12:56 pm

National Bureau of Biological and Botanical Research;
We thank you for your request, and are eagerly expecting the arrival of seeds.
Thanks to a recent donation we have received, price has been lowered to $1,000 per seed envelope, making your total payment $75,000 annually.

I would like to enquire - is the Solane also the plant's botanical name, or is Floralis Solana Lazuli the botanical name?

Thank you,
Dr. Brian Sympathica, head of the Antarctic Seed Bank.

Government of Britcan;
Words can't express how thankful I am to receive your kind donation. Not only that it allows us to reduce the annual cost per envelope by a third, it would also allow us to improve the infrastructure in the bank, making it even more reliable and useful.

Thank you,
Dr. Brian Sympathica, head of the Antarctic Seed Bank.

by **Savedland** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 1:39 pm

Thak you very much for accepting our seeds.
We are sorry for not clarifying which name is which.

So, the common name is Solane and the botanical one is Floralis Solana Lazuli.

Once again, thank you.

N.B.B.B.R.

by **San Pellegrino Romana** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 4:45 pm

by **Creestahlyia** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 5:04 pm

Sender information (name of sender/company/scientific institute/country and address): The Government of Creestahlyia
Payment information (credit card/bank account number and bank name): El Banco de fomento ID: 563-72566
Common name of the plant: Green Gnomes
Botanical name of the plant:Welwitschia Mirabilis
Origin of plant: Native of Creestahlyia
More information/requirements:This odd plant stumped taxonomists for years. A desert plant found in Creestahlyia, the thick welwitschia mirabilis generally possesses only two leaves, but these leaves curl and tangle as the plant grows (it often lives over 1,000 years) and becomes a jumbled, tough mass spanning 6 feet or more.

How many envelopes of seeds are you sending (note: an envelope can contain many seeds)?: 100 envelopes containg 30 seeds (3000 seeds).

by **Antarctic Isles** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 3:17 am

Mr. Paolo Mancini;
Words can't express how thankful I am for your donation. It is needless to say that a special vault will be created for your company, and that we would not charge anything for the storing of the Roman Strawberry.

Sincerely,
Dr. Brian Sympathica, head of the Antarctic Seed Bank.

The Government of Creestahlyia;
We at the seed bank are now expecting the arrival of these exciting seeds. The annual cost for your request is $100,000.

Thank you,
Dr. Brian Sympathica, head of the Antarctic Seed Bank.

by **Antarctic Isles** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 2:53 pm

The world's safest seed bank is now accepting more seeds.

by **Antarctic Isles** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 9:57 am

by **Oceanic Vakiadia** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 3:53 pm

Sender information (name of sender/company/scientific institute/country and address): Imperial Botanical Research Bureau
Payment information (credit card/bank account number and bank name): Imperial Bank of Vakiadia, Account number 374885787
Common name of the plant: Oceanic Ring Flower
Botanical name of the plant: Passiflora Caerulea
Origin of plant: Oceanic Vakiadia
More information/requirements: It flourishes in wet, tropical environments.
How many envelopes of seeds are you sending (note: an envelope can contain many seeds)?: 100 envelopes with 50 seeds each, meaning 5000 seeds.

The Antarctic Seed Bank

The Antarctic Seed Bank

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