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How do endolithic cyanobacteria survive inside rocks in Antarctica’s dry valleys?
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Polar ecosystem
Southern limit of Arctic tundra and approximate line of demarcation between Low and High Arctic.
In the extreme environment of Antarctica’s dry valleys, endolithic cyanobacteria survive by living within or just below the surface of porous rocks.12
These organisms are uniquely adapted to this cold-desert habitat by remaining in a state of dormancy for extended periods. They essentially wait for rare environmental conditions—specifically the melting of snow—to provide the moisture necessary to activate their life processes. By residing inside the rock, they are shielded from the harshest elements of the external environment while still being positioned to utilize available resources when conditions briefly become favorable.13