New Antarctic Species Database Released for Conservation

A comprehensive database of Antarctic species has been released by Australian Antarctic Program scientists, consolidating over 35,600 records of 1,890 species from the ice-free regions of the continent. This database, including data over 200 years old, will support global ecological studies and conservation efforts under the Antarctic Treaty. In related research, University of Otago scientists analyzed 30 years of data on the thickness of landfast sea ice in McMurdo Sound, finding no long-term trend in thickness despite climate change. Antarctica continues to face environmental threats such as ice melting due to global warming, which affects global sea levels and disrupts marine ecosystems. Additionally, the Blood Falls phenomenon, caused by high iron content in subglacial water, intrigues scientists due to its unique chemical and microbial environment.