Due to Climate Change, Flowering Plants in Antarctica Experience Explosive Growth

KOMPAS.com – A warmer climate is also driving growth plant Flowering faster and massive in Antartika. Impact climate change This is bad news, as it represents a tipping point for the region’s changing ecosystem.

Previously, scientists had observed an increase in growth flowering plant due to climate change in the northern hemisphere, but the latest findings are the first to be recorded in southern Antarctica.

quote New ScientistTuesday (15/2/2022) in a study published in Current Biology, Nicoletta Cannone from the University of Insubria, Italy and her colleagues measured the growth of two flowering plants native to Antarctica.

The two plants are Deschampsia antarctica and Colobanthus quitensis. Researchers carried out plant measurements at a number of locations on Signy Island from 2009 to 2019.

Researchers then compared their observations with surveys from 50 years earlier. They found Signy Island more densely packed with plants.

Also read: The Impact of Climate Change, Flowers in England Blossom a Month Early

Not only that, due to climate change, flowering plants in Antarctica as Deschampsia antarctica and Colobanthus quitensis also grows faster every year as the climate warms.

Deschampsia antarctica grow more in a temporary 10 year period Colobanthus quitensis grew five times more over the same period.

“Growth appears to be accelerating and is clearly visible in the region,” said Peter Convey of the British Antarctic Survey.

The research also provides the first comprehensive data set showing how quickly and how densely plants can grow.

Factors can affect plant growth such as declining seal populations, but a warmer climate has a clear link to this plant growth.

Also read: Climate Change Makes Birds in the Amazon Shrink, How come?

Increasing temperatures also allow invasive species to colonize and grow larger than native plants. This can disrupt local ecosystems and biodiversity.

“If we estimate what we are observing on Signy Island and other sites in Antarctica, a similar process can also occur. This means that the Antarctic landscape and biodiversity can change rapidly,” said Cannone.

Not only threatening the landscape, climate change also has an impact on dramatic changes to the glaciers in Antarctica.

As reported Kompas.com Previously, the Thwaites Glacier, which is Antarctica’s largest glacier, began to melt rapidly and potentially rupture within the next five to 10 years.

Consequence climate change impacts At this time, scientists fear that the melting glacier could potentially raise sea levels by up to 65 cm. Until now, researchers continue to closely monitor the development of the glacier.

Also read: New Study Reveals Food Crops Will Be Affected by Climate Change

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