The first global study describing the animal biodiversity of glaciers has been published in PNAS. The study documents more than 150 animal species inhabiting supraglacial environments, including 73 species that are strictly dependent on supraglacial habitats. Among the co-authors are researchers from the CollembolICE project, whose work on glacier springtails made a significant contribution to the dataset used in the study.

The knowledge developed through CollembolICE on the taxonomy, distribution, and ecology of glacier springtails has substantially improved our understanding of one of the most characteristic groups of glacier ecosystems, helping to build a more comprehensive picture of biodiversity inhabiting glaciers worldwide.

The study also highlights how the rapid retreat of glaciers poses a severe threat to this highly specialized fauna: many species are projected to lose more than 90% of their habitat by the end of the century.