Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How do lichens survive the harsh Antarctic environment?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Antarctica
Paradise Bay, Antarctica.
Lichens are remarkably well-adapted to the harsh, cold desert climate of Antarctica, where they represent a significant portion of the continent's plant life. Their survival strategies include:1
- Dormancy and Rapid Recovery: Lichens can endure long periods of high stress by entering a state of dormancy. They are capable of becoming photosynthetic almost instantly once environmental conditions improve.1
- Microclimate Utilization: They often grow in specific microclimates created by the differential solar heating of dark surfaces. For example, they grow preferentially on darker-colored rocks that absorb more heat.1
- Cold Resistance: The photosynthetic apparatus of lichens is highly resistant to cold. Many species can absorb and fix carbon dioxide even at temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F).2
- Protective Drying: Lichens have no mechanism for water retention, but their ability to dry out rapidly serves as a protective device, making them more resistant to extreme light and temperature fluctuations than when they are wet.2