"Plant" Life in Antarctica:

Antarctica has very few types of land organisms that photosynthesize. Antarctic flora includes types of bacteria called cyanobacteria, and lichen, which are a symbiotic combination of fungus and algae.

photo of lichen

 

 

 

Photo of lichen growing on basalt near McMurdo Station. Width of area in photo is 12 cm.

photo of pond

 

 

 

 

Small pond near McMurdo Station filled with melt water. The green color is due to diatoms and other algae.

photo of pond

 

 

 

Another small pond (width of area is photo is 2 meters) near McMurdo Station. The brown to cream color is due mainly to the presence of bacteria.

photo of algae

 

 

 

A small (15 meter wide) opening in the sea ice along the shoreline near McMurdo Station. Two Weddell Sea seals are sleeping nearby. The green color here is due to marine algae that is well fed by nutrients and minerals supplied by break down of basalt on the island.
 
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