Ice-free areas threaten Antarctica's native species

The increasing ice-free areas in Antarctica could have bad consequences on plants and animals unique in the continent, a new study says. The report was published in the journal Nature and it explains how ice-free areas could increase to 25 percent by 2100 with the actual trend of greenhouse gas emissions. This expansion could provoke a decline in native plant and animals populations. 

Aleks Terauds it’s a cowriter in this study, and in a report from USA Today he explain: «While this might provide new areas for native species to colonize, it could also result in the spread of invasive species, and in the long term, the extinction of less competitive native species». 

Actually the ice-free area covers only 1 percent of the Antarctica. The problem is that these areas are the home of 99 percent of flora and fauna in the continent, and ice-free areas are highly increasing. With these temperatures, South Oakley Islands will be completely ice-free by 2100. According to the scientists, this event will be «a complete transformation of the physical environment». 

There are also species which could benefit from this transformation, like penguins, seabirds and seals. They could find new spaces to breed and live. Gentoo penguins, for example, could expand his population and the space they live in. 

However, researchers said that these changes in the species will destabilize the ecosystem of Antarctica. Indeed, new invasive species could threaten the survival of the native species.