Latest News

The dwindling glaciers are putting the Patagonian Ice Dragon, a resilient insect of Chile, at risk.

The dwindling glaciers are putting the Patagonian Ice Dragon, a resilient insect of Chile, at risk.

The Patagonian Ice Dragon of Chile is a tiny, but mighty insect. It lives in frozen glaciers and feeds on algae and bacteria.

It is now an endangered species due to global warming, which is accelerating the loss of glaciers.

Maribet Gamboa is a researcher from Chile's UCSC University. She leads a study aimed at conserving the Patagonian dragon, and the glaciers that it lives in.

The research is aimed at understanding the Patagonian Dragon and the glacier. Gamboa added that scientists had taken samples of the insect in order to determine the genes which have been adapted to the harsh climate.

The Patagonian Dragon, first discovered in 1950, was thought to be extinct until 2001 when it was rediscovered by an expedition.

This mighty insect, which can live up to 40 meters below the surface, is regarded as an indicator for clean glacial water, as it serves as a filter by feeding on dust, organic matter and bacteria.

Gamboa believes that this will allow the insect to become a barometer of glacier health as the world warms.

Gamboa explained that the study is a combination of how climate change affects glaciers and their habitat. This allows us to use it as an indicator of climate change for the region. (Reporting and TV by Juan Gonzalez; Writing by Alexander Villegas, Editing by Aurora Ellis).

(source: Reuters)