Environmental Science · Ecology
Researchers found micro-litter fibers in Antarctic sea stars collected at Deception Island, South Shetland Islands. Sea stars sampled near research stations had higher amounts at one depth, supporting their potential use in monitoring pollution on the seafloor.
The Northern Patagonian Icefield could retain between 6% and 62% of its current volume by 2200, depending on future emissions. Researchers found that ice loss would accelerate from the middle of this century under climate-change scenarios.
A machine-learning study predicts that 15% to 23% of uncultivated microbes may have symbiotic lifestyles. These predicted symbionts appear across half of all known bacterial and archaeal groups, according to a new genomic catalog.
Rare underwater observations at a retreating glacier in South Greenland found unexpectedly high biological activity at the point where ice meets the ocean. Zooplankton, fish and other organisms appeared to respond to glacier material, rather than mainly to deeper nutrient-rich water.
A survey of snow from lowlands, mountains and polar regions found tardigrades, rotifers, nematodes, mites and springtails. The findings suggest that snowfields and small glaciers could provide refuges for some cold-loving species during warmer periods.
