There are signs of ecological change due to climate change in the arid valley of Antarctica

In a two-decade study, a team of researchers led by Colorado State University found a number of animals such as nematode worms and other Dry McMurdo animals, one of them. The world's coldest and coldest desert. The finding shows that ecological change is due to climate change, which has caused melting ice that began in 2001.

There are no trees, birds or mammals in the Dry McMurdo Valley, located in the largest area of ​​the Antarctic continent. However, there are bacteria and invertebrates in microscopic soil that live in harsh environments, where the average average temperature is below -15 degrees Celsius, or 5 degrees Fahrenheit.

Scientists say the findings provide insight and alarms about how ecosystems respond to climate change as well as unusual climate events.

"Before 2001, there was no warming trend," said Walter Andriuzzi, the lead author of the study and a post-doctoral researcher at the Department of Biology and Global Environment School.

Higher temperatures mean faster, faster and more melting ice, leading to the decline of the most common species, namely Scottnema lindsayae. In contrast, there are a number of other species that are increasingly abundant and spreading. As a result, at higher elevations in the valley, soil bacteria and animals are becoming increasingly diverse, with ambiguous consequences for the ecosystem.

Andriuzzi, a researcher at Professor Diana's lab, said: "This is happening all over the world, and not just in Antarctica. For example, in the Rocky Mountains, scientists have observed insects move upwards year by year, due to warming temperatures " .

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