Applicant

Ekaterina Pushkareva, Ph.D.
Universität zu Köln
Biozentrum
Institut für Pflanzenwissenschaften
Lehrstuhl Terrestrische Mikrobiologie
Zülpicher Straße 47a
50674 Köln

Project description

The terrestrial flora of Antarctica is restricted to sparse ice-free areas where bryophytes (mosses, liverworts and hornworts) are usually the dominant vegetation. They play a significant role in various aspects of ecosystem dynamics, including nutrients and carbon cycles. Furthermore, bryophytes are poikilohydric organisms capable of enduring severe environmental conditions, such as freezing and desiccation, which are frequent in the Antarctic climate. They often engage in symbiotic associations with other organisms such as fungi and cyanobacteria. Bryophytes provide carbohydrates and lipids to fungi/cyanobacteria and, in return, receive nutrients from the symbionts. However, the precise role of symbiotic microorganisms in bryophyte adaptation to extreme environments remains unclear. There are currently no studies demonstrating the mechanisms through which bryophyte-microorganism associations adapt in Antarctica or how they will respond to climate change. Therefore, the objectives of this proposal are to investigate the mechanisms of adaptation in Antarctic bryophytes that have symbiotic relationships with fungi and/or cyanobacteria, and to explore how these symbionts contribute to the survival of the bryophytes. The project extension will focus on Andreaea regularis as a model system to investigate the functional roles of associated microorganisms in Antarctic stress adaptation.

DFG Programme: Infrastructure Priority Programmes

Term since 2024