Investigations on Deterioration in the Historic Huts of Antarctica

在南极探险的英雄时代（20世纪初），探险者们在南极探险的极端环境中建造了建筑物，并带来了大量的补给。探险结束后，这些建筑就被遗弃了，留下了小屋和成千上万的文物（如家具、科学仪器、食品商店、衣服）。今天，这些历史遗迹提供了一个非凡的过去的视图，虽然极端的极地环境提供了一些保护，防止迅速腐烂，严重恶化是显而易见的。该项目（与新西兰科学家合作）是一项研究的延续，旨在确定攻击这些历史建筑和文物的细菌和真菌，并阐明极地环境中发生的生物降解机制。还将进行研究，以更好地了解正在发生的非生物（如盐、紫外线、风）退化过程，并测试保护这些历史悠久的树木免受持续破坏的方法。污染历史遗迹的污染物（例如多芳烃）对南极环境构成严重问题，调查将评估污染程度并制定适当的补救方案。这个项目将为本科生和研究生提供参与研究的机会。对于那些对极地探险的最后一个伟大时代感兴趣的国际社会和普通公众来说，保存这些历史悠久的木结构建筑将引起极大的兴趣。研究结果将为保护人员提供所需的科学数据，帮助他们为子孙后代保护这些重要的南极历史遗迹。这项研究还将大大增加我们对南极微生物的生物学和生态学的认识，极地环境中微生物的生物多样性，并阐明独特的退化过程。

The explorers of Antarctica's heroic era (early twentieth century) erected buildings and brought large amounts of supplies to survive the extreme environment during their Antarctic exploration. These buildings were abandoned once the expedition was over, leaving huts and thousands of artifacts (e.g., furniture, scientific apparatus, food stores, clothing) behind. Today these historic sites provide a remarkable view into the past and while the extreme polar environment has provides some protection from rapid decay, serious deterioration is apparent. This project (in collaboration with New Zealand scientists) and is a continuation of research to identify the bacteria and fungi attacking these historic structures and artifacts and to elucidate the mechanisms of biodegradation occurring in the polar environment. Studies will also be done to better understand the non-biological (e.g., salt, UV light, wind) deterioration processes taking place and to test methods for protecting the historic woods from continued attack. Pollutants (e.g., polyaromatic hydrocarbons) that contaminate the historic sites pose serious problems to the Antarctic environment and investigations will assess the extent of contamination and develop appropriate protocols for remediation. This project will provide opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to become involved in research. The preservation of the historic wooden structures will be of great interest to those in the international community and the general public who are intrigued by the last great age of polar exploration. Results will provide the scientific data needed by conservators to help protect these important Antarctic historic sites for future generations. This research will also add significantly to our knowledge of the biology and ecology of the Antarctic microorganisms, the biodiversity of microbes present in the polar environment and elucidate unique deterioration processes.