Studying Icy Insects

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Creatures Found Living in Freezing Environments!

Ecosystems in an icy world

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The Lives of Insects Living in Snow and Ice

On glaciers, snow falls on the upper part of the glacier, where it is packed down into ice. The ice flows from the top of the glacier to the bottom, much like a conveyor belt. Insects that live on the surface of the glacier are carried down the glacier as they grow to maturity. The female insects climb up to the higher glacier to lay their eggs. They use the sun to guide them as they walk, measuring the terrain as they go.

Japanese Scientist Discovers Insects Living in Snow and Ice

Insects living in the Japanese Alps. The Japanese Alps had glaciers about 10,000 years ago.

Professor Kohshima Shiro of Kyoto University discovered the glacier midge ("Diamesa kohshimai"), an insect that lives in a Himalayan glacier in 1982. While climbing mountains with his university's mountaineering club, he was struck by the desire to travel to the Himalayas and discover a brand new species. According to the professor, "If you really want to study biology, try to work within your interests and do something no one else has done before."

Glacier Biology: A Very Young Field

Professor Kohshima continues to tackle groundbreaking challenges!

1. Analysis of ice layers
Organisms trapped in ice tell scientists about the environment of the past.

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Black glaciers

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There are also pink glaciers.
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2. Researching the ecology of microorganisms
The color of a glacier depends on the kinds of microorganisms that live in its ice. If certain bacteria are present, the glacier tends to be black. Because dark colors absorb more energy from the sun, black glaciers tend to melt more quickly. It appears that global warming is not the only cause of glacial melting; organisms that live on the glaciers can influence how fast they melt.

3. Besides ice organisms, Professor Kohshima also studies orangutans, dolphins, parakeets, and many other animals.

Courtesy of Professor Kohshima Shiro of Kyoto University

(Updated in August 2008)

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