A little hint of terrestrial life

After 1.000 years, the Antarctic tundra is starting to become a significant habitat for native fauna, especially in the warm season.

Due to the presence of large glaciers flowing in the ocean, these patches of tundra are still small and extremely fragmented, mostly found on the Western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. The total surface of this habitat could be approximated to be around 100.000 km² (39.000 square miles).
Antarctic tundra is very poor compared to its arctic counterpart due to small habitat variability. Antarctic vascular plants mostly comprise cushion plants, due to the lack of enough soil. Where soil starts to accumulate, other plant associations develop, dominated by the introduced Poa annua and Poa flabellata.
Some introduced herbs have made their way too, like Ranunculus repens and Acaena magellanica. Willow shrubs (Salix alba) can also be found in the upper part of the antarctic Peninsula.

No vertebrate has become yet totally land adapted, with the most terrestrial vertebrate being only the snowy sheathbill. Sometimes, vagrant south American birds can be observed resting in various locations of the Antarctic Peninsula. These wandering individuals usually die out of starvation, due to the harsh environment of the continent. Only a small flock of undetermined passerine was able to survive for two months on Elephant Island, before disappearing.

On the other hand, introduced insects have been completely adapted to the antarctic climate: 15 species of flies and mosquitoes order (Diptera) have been found, including the only truly native insect of the continent, the Antarctic midge (Belgica antarctica). They are mostly parasites of various species of plants or animals during the larval stage. Then, in the adult stage, most of these species become pollinators of the few flowering plants of the polar continent.
Another non-Diptera species observed is an unidentified moth species on Deception Island.