Antarctica was once thought to be a lifeless continent, dominated by vast ice sheets. However, microbial life flourishes in its extreme environments, particularly in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, one of the most diverse and productive microbial habitats on the continent. These cold desert regions, nestled within the Transantarctic Mountains, host permanently ice-covered lakes that provide rare oases of liquid water and light, sustaining complex microbial communities.
Dr. Rachael Morgan-Kiss and her research team have studied the protist communities within these lakes for nearly two decades. In this seminar, she will explore the diversity and trophic roles of protists in two MDV lakes, Bonney and Fryxell, and discuss the environmental factors influencing their distribution. Additionally, she will present insights from integrated field and laboratory studies that reveal how these microorganisms survive the extreme conditions of the long Antarctic winter.