Exploring the Unique Plants of Antarctica

What is Antarctica like?

Antarctica has one of the harshest climates on Earth. It is the coldest, driest, and windiest continent on the planet. It is also the largest desert. The coldest temperature ever recorded was a mind-blowing −128.6 ^oF. The average annual rainfall is just a few inches. Antarctica wasn’t always the frozen desert that it is today. Millions of years ago, when it split from the

supercontinent A huge, ancient landmass that split apart to form the continents of today.

Gondwana, it was very different. Fossil records show that it was once lush and green. It was also much warmer. As temperatures dropped and the land became covered in snow and ice, much of the plant life died out. Only the hardiest of species survived. Today, penguins, seals, and a few invertebrates survive on the frozen continent. The animals that live in Antarctica have special adaptations to cope with the climate. They have a thick layer of fat and a waterproof exterior. Plant life that lives there also has unique coping mechanisms.

What plants live in Antarctica?

The vegetation that is found on Antarctica today is mostly moss and lichen. But there are also two flowering plants native to the world’s coldest continent.

If you know where to look, you can find these plants. Along some of Antarctica’s coastline and islands the weather is milder. The snow melts just enough to expose the soil beneath. It comprises just 1% of the entire continent, but, here, plant life exists.

It must be quick to grow during Antarctica’s brief summer. In addition to the 2 species of flowering plant, 30 liverworts and about 100 different mosses exist there.

What adaptations do Antarctic plants have to survive?

Each of these organisms have adapted to Antarctica’s harsh environment. They are some of the hardiest plants in the world.

Antarctic hair grass and Antarctic pearlwort are the two flowering plants found on Antarctica. They endure huge stress from the environment. They survive extreme temperatures with regular frosts.

Drought, high winds, and low light quality are common. There are few nutrients in the soil, and growing seasons are short.

To cope with these conditions, these plants increase their

metabolic rates. The amount of energy used by a living thing and how quickly it is used.

This means they work faster to make food for themselves. They have longer lifecycles. They are better at

photosynthesis The conversion of light into energy by green plants.

and

respiration Similar to breathing. A way in which energy is created from air.

than other plants. This allows the plants to survive with less sunlight and in the cold. Their roots are also well-developed and take hold in the smallest of crevices. They can grow in thin, poor-quality soils.

Antarctica’s conditions make its plants look a certain way. They are mostly small, short, and low to the ground. This reduces damage from high winds and reduces

desiccation Dehydration or drying out

from the leaves. When it’s very cold, ice crystals can form inside plants. This can cause a lot of damage. The plants can be killed if the ice crystals get too big. , by containing chemicals that repair its tissues. This is a way that the plant protects itself from the extreme cold. Antarctic plants have another adaptation. They rely on help from

microogranisms. A microscopic organism or living thing.

. These are tiny organisms like fungi and bacteria. Fungi and bacteria have a

symbiotic relationship. A relationship between organisms.

with Pearlwort and hair grass. They live next to and inside the plants. They can help the plants to photosynthesize and absorb nutrients. They can also help the plants survive the cold. These features are important in Antarctica where the conditions are poor and the nutrients are in low supply.

How do Antarctica’s plants reproduce?

Because Antarctica is so cold, there aren’t any insects that live there. Insects are very important for flowering plants. They pollinate them so that they can make new plants. With no

pollinators An animal that transfers pollen from one plant to another.

living nearby, the plants need to find other ways to spread their seeds or pollinate their flowers. Hairgrass uses wind pollination. Their seeds are carried by the wind, and if they land on soil then they can grow. Pearlwort, however, self-pollinates. This means that the plant can reproduce by itself. Its own

pollen A powdery substance that is the male reproductive cells of plants.

lands on its own

stigma The female part of a flower;it is sticky to collect pollen.

The advantage of self-pollinating plants is that all their genes are passed on to the new generation. The unique ability to survive the cold is passed on to the new plants. If the parent plant thrives then so will the offspring. There is a big disadvantage of self-pollination, however. They have low genetic diversity because there is no new DNA coming into the population. This means that they cannot adapt to new challenges. If the climate changes too much they will struggle to survive. They are at a high risk from climate change.

Antarctic Lichen

Another organism that survives in Antarctica is lichen. Although this isn’t technically a plant, it has plant-like properties. It is a mix between

algae Plant-like photosynthetic organisms that mostly live in the water and that lack the structures of plants including roots,stems, and leaves.

and fungi. These species do well in Antarctica as they are well-adapted to the environment.

Lichen can photosynthesize at −4^oF, which is very cold. It can absorb water vapor from snow and ice. It can also photosynthesize underneath the snow. In fact, lichen grow well under this thin layer of snow as it provides protection from the harsh weather. However, the growth rate of lichens in Antarctica is really slow. Some grow less than half an inch every 1,000 years!

The threat of global warming on Antarctica’s plants

As global warming continues to grip the planet, Antarctica’s unique flora is reacting. Some mosses are showing signs of stress. Some species are prioritizing survival over reproduction and growth. And new species are beginning to dominate the plant life.

As the continent warms and becomes even drier, there is a growing shift in the plant life on this incredible and unique continent. For some species, the change in weather means they can proliferate and spread across the land. For others, this change will likely lead to their demise.

Glossary

metabolic rate: The amount of energy used by a living thing and how quickly it is used

photosynthesis: The conversion of light into energy by green plants

respiration: Similar to breathing. A way in which energy is created from air

desiccation: Dehydration or drying out

microorganism: A microscopic organism or living thing

symbiotic relationship: A relationship between organisms

pollinator: An animal that transfers pollen from one plant to another

pollen: A powdery substance that is the male reproductive cells of plants

supercontinent: A huge, ancient landmass that split apart to form the continents of today

algae: Plant-like photosynthetic organisms that mostly live in the water and that lack the structures of plants including roots, stems, and leaves

stigma: The female part of a flower; it is sticky to collect pollen

Flesch Kincaid Grade Level: 6.4

Flesch Kincaid Reading Ease: 63.3

References

Park et al, 2019 Characterization and Structural Determination of Cold-Adapted Monodehydroascorbate Reductase, MDHAR, from the Antarctic Hairgrass Deschampsia antarctica. https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst9100537 Accessed on 27th January 2023

John et al, 2009 Ice recrystallization inhibition proteins (IRIPs) and freeze tolerance in the cryophilic Antarctic hair grass Deschampsia antarctica E. Desv https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19143989/ Accessed on 27th January 2023

Wikipedia Antarctica https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarctica Accessed on 27th January 2023

In Defence of Plants (2018) The Flora of Antarctica: Life on a Frozen Continent. https://www.indefenseofplants.com/blog/2018/11/5/on-the-flora-of-antarctica Accessed on 29th January 2023

Australian Antarctic Programme (2021) Lichens https://www.antarctica.gov.au/about-antarctica/plants/lichens/ Accessed on 30th January 2023

Perazzolli et al. (2022) Simulated global warming affects endophytic bacterial and fungal communities of Antarctic pearlwort leaves and some bacterial isolates support plant growth at low temperatures. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-23582-2 Accessed on 30th January 2023

Contributors

Kate Lewis, Ph.D.: Author

I studied for my BSc Zoology degree in Swansea University, UK in 2009 and competed my PhD in Agriculture in 2014 at Aberystwyth University, UK. I'm passionate about science, in particular zoology. I've worked in research for over 10 years. This work is usually broad and extensive. It has involved finding solutions to problems associated with farming, antibiotic resistance, animal and human nutrition, and reducing the impact of agriculture on climate change. I have had the pleasure of working both in the UK and overseas. My most enjoyable project to date, has been working along the African Rift Valley. I love talking about these topics and trying to convey my enthusiasm for them through scientific writing. Writing for Smore Magazine allows me to do that.

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