Mosses and insects once dominated Antarctica

American geological experts have found evidence that barren valleys in Antarctica were once inhabited by moss and insects.

Scientists believe that, 14 million years ago, Antarctic uninhabited valleys were tundra (where the soil was permanently frozen), similar to some places in Alaska (USA), Canada. and Siberia (Russia). They are cold but there are conditions for life.

Adam Lewis and a number of geologists from the University of North Dakota have found a dry moss in a valley while studying Antarctic ice cover.

The barren Antarctic valleys used to be wet tundra.Photo: AP.

"We were not expecting to find such a thing. The mosses were dry because of the ice, but the interesting thing was that its tissues remained, even though 14 million years had passed," Lewis said.

Earlier, mosses were found near the coast of Antarctica and insects living on parasites on seabirds, but this was the first time that the remnants of life were discovered in an inland area.

Later, Lewis's group found the corpses of some small crustaceans, midges and beetles. They also discovered pollen of southern oak and carnation.

"The existence of glacial lakes, tundra plants and insect carcasses shows that, 14 million years ago, the Antarctic climate was wetter and warmer today. This helps us understand more about the system. climate system ", the researchers concluded in the report.