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The dry valleys of Antarctica appear to be devoid of life, but
digging in the ground reveals a startling discovery -- roundworms,
which tell the tale of climate change. Scientists in the Long
Term Ecological Research project are studying how these simple
life forms respond to environmental changes in order to gauge
how more complex plants and animals may react.
Narrated by Diana Wall, biology professor and
senior research scientist at the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory
at Colorado State University in Boulder
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McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica
Long Term Ecological Research teams are studying the
glaciers, lakes and soil in the bitterly cold and barren
McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica.
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Lake Hoare Camp
The researchers encountered the oldest, coldest and
driest soil on Earth. Photo Credit: Amy Chiuchiolo
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Roundworm Discovery
The soil ecology team found the dominant invertebrate
in the McMurdo Dry Valleys is the roundworm, Scottnema lindsayae.
Photo Credit: D.Wall Lab
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Antarctophorus
Microarthropods are from further south, in the Darwin
Glacier area of Antarctica. Photo Credit: B.O. Brien
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Biscoia
Researchers are studying how organisms, such as this
microarthropod called biscoia, in other parts of Antarctica
behave. Photo Credit: B.O. Brien
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Scottnema Lindsayae
The decrease in roundworms since the study began in
1989 is due to climate change. Photo Credit: D.Wall Lab
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Dark, Cold Climate
A rock shaped by sand-erosive wind lies in front of
the Canada Glacier in the dry valleys. Photo Credit:
Chris Gardner
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Smog
Soils are "pounded by pollution," according to Diana
Wall, and scientists are studying the pollution's effects
on different kinds of ecosystems. Photo Credit: EPA
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Complex Ecosystems
Studying the effects of climate change on simple life
forms can help scientists extrapolate effects on more complex
environments. Photo Credit: FWS
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Glacier Team
Waterfall flows off Canada Glacier. Photo Credit:
Thomas Nylen
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Frozen Lakes
A researcher pulls a sled of equipment on the frozen
surface of Lake Hoare. Photo Credit: Amy Chiuchiolo
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Stream Work
Scientists work on the Von Guerard stream. Photo
Credit: Barb Woods
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Taylor Valley
Researchers in different disciplines compare notes to
get a fuller picture of the region. Photo Credit: Holly
Zedah
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