8 . There are just two species of flowering plant native to the Antarctic peninsula (半岛), which are now growing at record rates as temperatures rise and ice begins to melt, according to a new study. One is Antarctic hair grass, which grew as much in 2009—2019 as it had in the previous 50 years; the other is Antarctic pearl wort, which has seen the speed of growth increase five times over the same period.
A team led by Nicoletta Cannone, a researcher from the University of Insubria, Italy, measured the growth of Antarctica’s two native plants at sites on Signy Island. The results were shocking: the sites have not only seen faster growth, but they have become more densely populated by the plants each year, which indicates the climate has got warmer.
According to nonprofit Discovering Antarctica, the region’s temperatures have warmed by an average of 3°C as a result of human-caused climate change, meaning once stable ice shelves are now narrowing down. In some parts, that has given way to land now habitable to the two plant species.
Peter Convey, at the British Antarctic Survey, told the New Scientist: “The most novel feature of this is not that something is growing faster but that we’re starting to see what is almost like a step change or a tipping point.” And Matthew Davey, at the Scottish Association for Marine Science in Oban, UK, added: “Increasing expansion is now clearly evident in the region. This research gives us the first all-sided data showing how fast and how dense the plant community may expand.”
The researchers acknowledged there could be other factors at play causing the plants’ growth, such as the decreasing fur seal population—but this also is linked to climate change. Meanwhile, as the land becomes more habitable, non-native species could also occupy the land and grow more than native plants, which could in turn destabilize long-established local ecosystems.
“If we estimate what we observed on Signy Island to other sites in Antarctica, a similar process can also occur,” said Cannone “This means the Antarctic landscape and biodiversity could change rapidly. And that really concerns all.”
1. According to the article, what factors play a role in the fast growth of the two native plants?
| A．The climate getting warmer. |
| B．The fur seal population rising. |
| C．The non-native plants occupying the land. |
| D．The quality of the soil of the land improving. |
2. What does the underlined word “destabilize” mean in the last paragraph but one?
| A．Strengthen. | B．Change. | C．Benefit. | D．Narrow. |
3. What’s the researchers’ main concern regarding the growth of flowering plants in Antarctica?
| A．The decrease of fur seal population. |
| B．The occupation of non-native species. |
| C．The impact of human-caused climate change. |
| D．The rapid change in Antarctic landscape and biodiversity. |
4. Which of the following is the suitable title for the text?
| A．Scientists Working in Antarctica. |
| B．Native Flowering Plants in Antarctica. |
| C．The Effect of Global Warming on Antarctica. |
| D．Non-native Plant Species in Antarctica. |
