Adaptation Strategies of Antarctic Lichens in Polar Habitats and during Mars Simulation experiments

Abstract

Measurements on photosynthetic activity of Antarctic lichens were done in the Transantarctic Mountains during the 10th German Antarctic North Victoria Land Expedition (GANOVEX 10) and during Mars simulation experiments in the Mars simulation chamber at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) Berlin. In parallel measurements on environmental parameters like radiation, humidity, temperature and atmospheric composition were performed in the field as well as in the Mars simulation chamber. The aim was to get information about probable influences of each parameter on photosynthesis in both of the mentioned extreme locations. Observations and results obtained during the field campaigns performed in different altitudes in a transect of in total 200 km from the coast to the inner side of the Antarctic continent are showing colonizing and adaptive strategies which allow to resist to the very high UV radiation income, the very low temperature ranges and low humidity of the investigated habitats without important negative effects on photosynthesis. The adaptation capacity of the investigated lichens is even larger than expected because one of the chosen Antarctic lichen from these characterized polar habitats was also able to photosynthesise and to increase its photosynthetic activity during a Mars simulation experiment of about one month duration time.