A vital opportunity to discover how Antarctica’s cold-adapted plants and animals survive in warmer environments, and what that means for the future. KEEPING IT COOL when the temperature is rising Antarctica is a truly unique temperature regimes will help us RESEARCH TEAM environment. It is home to plants predict how species will cope with and animals that are found nowhere future climate warming. Lead researcher: else in the world, some of which have Your support can help unlock that Dr Angela McGaughran inhabited the frozen continent for knowledge. Australian National University, millions of years. Canberra Although many Antarctic species have What are the big “There is just something so adapted to live in the extreme cold, questions? special about Antarctica – it you might be surprised to discover is such a privilege to research there are others which live in positively In some areas of Antarctica, there are Antarctic plants and animals and balmy conditions. warm and cold environments in very close proximity: the change can be as I hope to actively work towards Hundreds of volcanoes around extreme as 65° C to -20° C in less than understanding and protecting Antarctica mean there are scattered one metre. Surprisingly, the same plant this unique continent for many areas of warm, ice-free rocks and and animal species can be found living years to come.” soils, along with subglacial geothermal on both sides of these gradients. caves. With soil temperatures over Supporting researchers: 100° C and air temperatures exceeding That unusual fact leads researchers to Associate Professor 25° C, these environments challenge ask a number of questions: Ceridwen Fraser our traditional understanding of • is heat good or bad for cold-adapted University of Otago, NZ conditions in the polar regions. Antarctic plants and animals? Professor Craig Cary Learning more about how the same • how do different temperatures drive Waikato University, NZ plants and animals can live near each evolution and adaptation? other in these drastically different Images: Thermometer in hot Antarctic soil, Deception Island. (photo: Ceridwen Fraser); Penguins in volcanic steam in front of an old whaling station on Deception Island. (photo: Ceridwen Fraser); Angela McGaughran (photo: Nico Grandona); Scientists sampling in a geothermal area. (photo: Ceridwen Fraser). • do individuals within populations maintain an ability to cope with both hot and cold conditions, or does being in one environment the project will pursue three key result in genetic changes that achievements: mean they become adapted to that • deepen our understanding of how environment and unable to tolerate All three members of the research Antarctic species will survive and another? team, which also includes Associate adapt as climate change leads to Professor Ceridwen Fraser from the • how can we use the information increased temperatures in the polar University of Otago, and Professor from existing warm environments regions. to predict how species will adapt to Craig Cary from the University of • enhance Antarctic conservation and climate change? Waikato, have experience working management programs by providing in Antarctica and care deeply about A research project led by Dr Angela information about the fragile conducting research that will support McGaughran from Australian National environments around volcanoes. conservation efforts in the region. University, and funded by the • promote public understanding Antarctic Science Foundation, aims to If you are passionate about the of Antarctic protection and answer these questions. protection of Antarctica – not just conservation by sharing results today but in the future – please How do we find the in popular science and media consider a gift to support their work. resources. answers? Dr McGaughran and her research Supporting current team will use advanced technologies research will help to analyse mosses and animals found in soils that have been collected along secure Antarctica’s temperature gradients surrounding future SUPPORT volcanic areas in Antarctica. Understanding species diversity By revealing how organisms that and resilience across different THIS PROJECT are cold-adapted can survive in high environments is crucial to predicting The Antarctic Science Foundation temperatures, and how Antarctic future change and making informed is seeking to raise $175,820 to geo-thermal areas promote evolution decisions about how to protect the and biodiversity on the continent, vulnerable Antarctic continent. fund this research. By making a gift to the Foundation, your contribution will enable the research team to: • hire a postdoctoral researcher for 12 months • undertake DNA extraction and preparation for sequencing of 600 samples • publish and promote research outcomes Scientists sampling in a geothermal area. (photo: Ceridwen Fraser). +61 3 6232 3658 | [email protected] | Hobart, TAS, Australia ACN 621 784 487 | ABN 26 573 874 298 | ANTARCTICSCIENCEFOUNDATION.ORG.