Lichen field work

Scientist working with lichens in Antarctica.

Student, Stefan Pannewitz, is undertaking lichen field work at Granite Harbour in Antarctica. He is placing probes to monitor the activity of lichens and mosses. Lichens – which are actually algal/fungal symbionts – can be active even when it’s extremely cold. They’ve been found photosynthesising in temperatures as low as -17ºC.