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The Turquet octopus, which has lived on the Antarctic side for around four million years, makes sad predictions about the future of our planet. By analyzing its DNA, researchers have gathered innovative and exciting information about the collapse of the ice sheet.
Antarctic octopuses, which live in the darkness of the deep sea, are fascinating creatures. What particularly surprises scientists is the fact that their genomes contain crucial information about the evolution of our planet’s physical properties. By analyzing the DNA of 96 Turquet octopuses, scientists concluded that the Antarctic ice sheet had completely melted during the last interglacial period. Back then, Earth’s climate was very similar to what we know today, suggesting we were on the verge of another collapse.
Octopuses for measuring ice melt
The study published in the journal Science focuses on populations of Turquet octopus living in several seas around Antarctica, including Weddell, Amundsen and Ross. If these three seas are separated by ice today, analysis of the DNA of 96 octopuses revealed that 125,000 years ago this part of the continent was ice-free, allowing marine animals to mate there and thus interbreed their genetic material. In other words, scientists are now certain that the West Antarctic ice sheet completely melted during the last interglacial period.
We present genomic evidence that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet collapsed during collapse #LastInterglacialPeriod!🇦🇶🌊🚨#popgen #Ice cover #interdisciplinary
…the turning point of the future #West Antarctic Ice Sheet The collapse could even be achieved under that #ParisAgreement (+1.5-2.0°C) pic.twitter.com/pSFRSQNBS0— Sally Lau (@lausally) February 1, 2023
During this crucial phase of the glaciation cycles “Global sea levels and global average temperatures were 5 to 10 meters higher than today 0.5° to 1.5°C warmer than pre-industrial values“, specify the authors. In other words, the tipping point of the future collapse of this vulnerable part of the Earth could therefore also be reached within the framework of the Paris Agreements, the aim of which is not to exceed 1.5 ° C of global warming.
A rise in water levels that would change the geography of the world
According to the authors of this study, the collapse of the Antarctic ice sheet would have the decisive impact of “a rise in sea level estimated at 3.5 to 5 meters,” said study author Jan Strugnell, a molecular biologist and professor at James Cook University (Australia), in a press release. According to them, a better understanding of the past configuration of the Antarctic ice sheet would make it possible to refine projections of sea level rise and the world’s oceans.
Although there remains uncertainty about the causes of ice cap melting during the last interglacial, the fact remains that these catastrophic scenarios would also have catastrophic consequences in many other regions of the world. Many small island areas could then disappear from the map, not to mention the dramatic impact on biodiversity and local populations.
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#octopus #DNA #predicts #fasterthanexpected #collapse #ice #sheet