Very few living things can survive the extremes of the Antarctic interior. One group of remarkable organisms that have adapted to survive are the lichens. They may not look too glamorous but they have to be one of the most amazing things alive if they can live naked in Antarctica. Some of them can even manufacture their own sunscreen to keep themselves protected from UV rays. I wish I could do that.
Lichens are also very special because they are extremely sensitive to environmental pollution. This means they can be used as indicators for atmospheric changes resulting from human activity.Also, they grow at different speeds depending on the temperature so they can be useful in studies of climate change.
The aim of my science project is to collect lichens and investigate their ecology in areas of Antarctica where they have not previously been studied. Perhaps I’ll find a brand new species or find out something new that these amazing living things can do.
