Concerns Rise as Flowers Flourish in Antarctica

As global temperatures rise and ice in Antarctica melts, researchers have found that plants on the continent are growing more quickly. The growth of Antarctica's two native plants, Antarctic hair grass and Antarctic pearlwort, has accelerated significantly in recent years, with the hair grass growing as much in 2009-2019 as it had in the entire 50 years from 1960 to 2009. This accelerated growth is seen as a tipping point and could have implications for local ecosystems and biodiversity, as invasive species may colonize and outgrow native plants.