Studies of Antarctic Fungi: Adaptive Stratigies for Survival and Protecting Antarctica's Historic Structures

南极生态系统中的真菌是生物多样性的主要贡献者，对生物降解和营养循环等过程具有重要影响。这是必不可少的生物调查以及基因组和蛋白质组学研究要完成，以便更好地了解这些生物体。先前的研究已经确定了与罗伯特·F·皮尔森（Robert F.斯科特和欧内斯特·沙克尔顿在探险的英雄时代。发现的许多真菌是以前未描述的物种，属于鲜为人知的Cadophora属。研究小组将获得关于南极洲罗斯海和半岛地区存在的真菌的重要新信息，特别是它们在分解和营养循环中的作用，以及它们在极地环境中生存的机制和策略。新的工具和方法包括变性梯度凝胶电泳（DGGE），实时PCR和蛋白质组学分析。 这些分析将揭示这些真菌在抑制其他真菌的条件下进行生物降解和营养循环等过程的生理适应的关键细节。 这项工作，加上它提供的培训和学习机会，将对许多研究领域具有价值，包括微生物生态学，极地生物学，木材微生物学，环境科学，土壤科学，地球生物化学和真菌学以及真菌遗传学，蛋白质组学和基因组学。 所获得的结果将立即用于帮助保存和保护南极洲的历史古迹。拟议的调查是研究的继续，以确定攻击这些历史建筑和文物的微生物，并阐明它们在极地环境中的生物学和生态学。新的研究也将在历史悠久的阿代尔角小屋进行，这是南极洲建造的第一座木结构小屋，也将在东基地进行，东基地是1939-1948年伯德海军上将和伦讷探险队在斯托宁顿岛上的美国历史遗址。研究小组将进行必要的研究，成功地保护这些遗址的木结构和文物，并为子孙后代保护它们。

Fungi in Antarctic ecosystems are major contributors to biodiversity and have great influence on many processes such as biodegradation and nutrient cycling. It is essential for biological surveys as well as genomic and proteomic studies to be completed so a better understanding of these organisms is obtained. Previous research has identified unique fungi associated with historic wooden structures brought to Antarctica by Robert F. Scott and Ernest Shackleton during the Heroic Era of exploration. Many of the fungi found are previously undescribed species that belong to the little known genus Cadophora. The research team will obtain important new information on the fungi present in the Ross Sea and Peninsula Regions of Antarctica, particularly their role in decomposition and nutrient recycling and their mechanisms and strategies for survival in the polar environment. New tools and methods include denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), real-time PCR, and proteomic profiling. These analyses will reveal key details of the physiological adaptations these fungi have evolved to carry out processes such as biodegradation and nutrient cycling under conditions that would inhibit other fungi. This work, coupled with the training and learning opportunities it provides, will be of value to many fields of study including microbial ecology, polar biology, wood microbiology, environmental science, soil science, geobiochemistry, and mycology as well as fungal phylogenetics, proteomics and genomics. Results obtained will have immediate applied use to help preserve and protect Antarctica's historic monuments. The investigations proposed are a continuation of research to identify the microbes attacking these historic structures and artifacts and to elucidate their biology and ecology in the polar environment. New research will also be done at the historic Cape Adare huts, the first wooden structures to be built in Antarctica and also at East Base, an American historic site on Stonington Island from the Admiral Byrd and Ronne Expeditions of 1939-1948. The research team will conduct vital studies needed to successfully conserve the wooden structures and artifacts at these sites and protect them for future generations