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Ice age survivors in Iceland |
| TheAllINeed.comJ |
(NC&T/UCPJ) They have discovered two species of groundwater amphipods in Iceland that are the only animals species found solely in Iceland. "These finding can only be explained by these animals surviving glaciations in some kind of refugium under the glaciers," says Bjarni K. Kristjánsson, the scientist who found the species.
In an article in the August issue of The American Naturalist, they put forward strong support for their theory. "Groundwater amphipods are poor at dispersal, and can not be transported with birds or humans," says Jörundur Svavarsson. One of these new species falls within a new family of amphipods, which indicates that the species has been a long time in Iceland. "The time since the end of the last glaciation is not enough for a family to evolve," says Svavarsson. Kristjansson and Svavarsson find it likely that the amphipod came to Iceland as early as 30-40 million years ago, when the volcanic island was being formed. "If our theory is right, we have discovered the oldest inhabitants of Iceland, and that can help us further understand how Iceland was formed," says Kristjansson.
 | | Crymostygius thingvallensis, the only species in a recently described family of groundwater amphipods Crymostygidae. (Photo: Thorkell Heidarsson) |
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| About the Author |
©2007 All rights reserved
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| Quotes | Figures wont lie, but liars will figure.
General Charles H. Grosvenor.
He thought the formula for water was H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O (H-to-O).
He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lampposts — for support rather than illumination. — Andrew Lang.
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