As Antarctica warms, more flowers bloom

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2022-02-15 03:00

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Italian researchers have noticed a "striking" expansion in the population of two Antarctic flowering plants, which they say is the first evidence of climate change accelerating ecosystem shifts on the icy continent. The study says sustained climate warming since the 1950s allowed for the plants to expand despite a major cold "pulse" in 2012. The researchers say while the warming may benefit some native Antarctic plants, it will also lead to increased risks from plant invaders - which could trigger irreversible biodiversity loss and changes to the fragile and unique ecosystems.