Antarctic lichens like this Usnea antarctica can be hundreds of years old and can, although fungal symbionts themselves, provide microhabitats for an ecosystem of fungal species. This “lichensphere” accommodates both unique and widely-spread fungi, including parasites, decomposers, and other symbionts. More than 30 potentially new species appeared in a prospecting study of such lichenspheres, which likely provide a safe haven for other Antarctic life as well. Researchers continue to mine fungi as a rich source of undiscovered molecules with antiviral, antibiotic, or antitumor properties and, in the case of Antarctic fungi, molecules especially adapted to protect against extreme conditions such as intense UV radiation and freezing.
Image by T.Voekler (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons