While the study was based on Antarctica, the findings help scientists understand how species survived past ice ages in other icy regions, including in periods when it is thought there was little or no ice-free land on the planet.

Antarctica has at least 16 volcanoes which have been active since the last ice age 20,000 years ago.

The study examined diversity patterns of mosses, lichens and bugs which are still common in Antarctica today.

Professor Peter Convey from the British Antarctic Survey said around 60 percent of Antarctic invertebrate species are found nowhere else in the world.

“They have clearly not arrived on the continent recently, but must have been there for millions of years. How they survived past ice ages the most recent of which ended less than 20,000 years ago has long puzzled scientists,” Professor Convey said.

Dr. Terauds of the Australian Antarctic Division ran the analysis, and says the patterns are striking.

“The closer you get to volcanoes, the more species you find. This pattern supports our hypothesis that species have been expanding their ranges and gradually moving out from volcanic areas since the last ice age,” he said.

Volcanoes help species survive ice ages: ANU study

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