New Study Reveals Extensive Plant Life in Antarctica, Revolutionizing Conservation Efforts

New Study Reveals Extensive Plant Life in Antarctica, Revolutionizing Conservation Efforts

(IN BRIEF) A groundbreaking study led by an international team, including SAMS, has mapped plant life across Antarctica, revealing nearly 45 square kilometers of vegetation. This discovery, published in Nature Geoscience, will inform conservation efforts and challenge perceptions of Antarctica as a barren continent. The research utilized satellite technology and field measurements, highlighting the importance of monitoring vegetation as an indicator of climate change.

(PRESS RELEASE) OBAN, 6-Aug-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — A pioneering continent-wide mapping study of plant life across Antarctica has been hailed as a ‘game changer’ by a scientist from the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS). The research, published in Nature Geoscience, uncovers growth in previously unexplored areas and is poised to influence conservation efforts throughout the region.

Utilizing a European Space Agency satellite in conjunction with field measurements taken over several summer seasons, scientists identified nearly 45 square kilometers of vegetation, an area approximately three times the size of Lake Windermere in the UK. This comprehensive satellite survey of mosses, lichens, and algae provides a crucial baseline for monitoring the impact of climate change on Antarctica’s vegetation.

Dr. Matthew Davey, SAMS principal investigator on polar algae and physiology, who played a key role in coordinating the research, emphasized the significance of the findings. “This is a major breakthrough and a game-changer in our understanding of these Antarctic ecosystems,” he stated. “The map, a product of many years’ work, highlights that Antarctica does have a vibrant plant and algal community, albeit small. It challenges the perception that Antarctica is largely devoid of plant life and underscores the importance of photosynthetic organisms on the continent.”

The international research team, led by the University of Edinburgh, along with the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, British Antarctic Survey, and SAMS, discovered that over 80% of the vegetation growth is concentrated within the Antarctic Peninsula and nearby islands. This vegetation represents only 0.12% of Antarctica’s total ice-free area, underscoring the necessity of protecting these key regions, which current Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) regulations inadequately cover.

Antarctic vegetation, primarily mosses and lichens, is vital for local carbon and nutrient cycling. Previously, the spatial extent and abundance of these plant species across the continent were unknown. Their environmental sensitivity makes them excellent indicators of regional climate change, providing insights into how similar vegetation might respond to changing climates in other fragile ecosystems, such as the Arctic.

Charlotte Walshaw, PhD researcher from the University of Edinburgh’s School of GeoSciences and study leader, explained the significance of the map. “Our continent-scale map offers crucial information on vegetation presence in rarely visited areas, profoundly impacting our understanding of vegetation distribution and the factors influencing it.”

Dr. Andrew Gray from the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, who co-led the study, highlighted the benefits of the research approach. “Remote sensing approaches like this are low-impact methods to study Antarctica’s fragile ecosystem and monitor future changes to its vegetation.”

The research was funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the UK Space Agency, with field campaigns supported by the British Antarctic Survey, Instituto Antarctic Chileno, and Antarctica New Zealand.

Media Contact:

Euan Paterson
Communications and Media Officer
Euan.Paterson@sams.ac.uk
01631 559342 (direct dial)
07827 963984 (mobile)
01631 559000 (switchboard)

SOURCE: Scottish Association for Marine Science