Fungi in Antarctica

Fungi are amazing at adapting to all kinds of environments, even ones where most other life wouldn’t stand a chance. After writing about winter fungi and how they’ve evolved clever ways to survive the cold, I started wondering where else those same tricks might be in play. That curiosity led me straight to Antarctic fungi, which face even harsher conditions and use many of the same survival strategies.

How do fungi live in Antarctica?

It’s hard to overstate how brutal Antarctica can be. Temperatures can plunge below -80°C, moisture is scarce, and sunlight disappears for months. And yet, fungi still manage to survive there. Of course, these are not the typical mushrooms or the mold you see on bread. Fungi that are able to thrive under extreme conditions are classified as extremophilic. Some Antarctic fungi are even cryophilic, meaning that they actually prefer the cold. These fungi, just like winter fungi, develop specialized proteins and anti-freeze compounds that add to their resilience and keep their cells from being frozen. But their adaptations are even more specialized, as the extreme conditions in Antarctica are not just seasonal challenges but permanent features of the environment. 

One of the most fascinating Antarctic fungi are the endolithic types, fungi that actually live inside rocks. Ice-free spots like Mcmurdo Dry Valleys are one of the harshest places on the continent, with low temperatures, minimal precipitation, and high winds. To cope, these fungi burrow into porous stones like sandstone. The rock gives them a tiny, protected world where they’re shielded from UV rays, can trap a bit of moisture, and avoid extreme temperature swings. A study conducted to examine different species that inhabit McMurdo Dry Valleys identified Friedmanniomyces endolithicus as a marker species for harsh environments. This black yeast tends to live in south-facing rocks, which are colder and drier. Its genome shows adaptations for stress tolerance, including DNA repair and radiation resistance. Most common species found in this area belonged to the phylum Ascomyota, specifically classes Lecanoromycetes, Dothideomycetes, Tremellomycetes, and Eurotiomycetes. They often team up with algae and cyanobacteria to form complex little communities. These hidden microbial ecosystems are so resilient that NASA has studied them as possible models for life beyond Earth. If life can exist here, why can it not exist on Mars or icy moons?

Among different fungal species, yeasts might be some of the best at handling cold. According to this review, Antarctic yeasts make all kinds of enzymes that help them break down different organic materials, letting them survive even when nutrients are scarce. Many Antarctic yeasts can also grow rapidly at temperatures below 0 °C.

What makes them even more adaptable is yeast–mycelium dimorphism, which is the ability to switch between unicellular yeast form and multicellular filamentous, mycelial form. In their yeast form, they can withstand long stretches of cold and dryness. When there’s a brief thaw and more moisture, they switch to the mycelial form, which spreads out over surfaces and soaks up nutrients more efficiently. This flexibility lets them make the most of the rare, short-lived moments when conditions in Antarctica are actually good for growth.

Fun fact!: Antarctic fungi also colonize living organisms, such as penguins (specifically their feathers and skin). These fungi can be harmless, opportunistic, or even pathogenic, depending on the species and the health of the host. Commonly isolated genera include Candida, Cryptococcus, and Malassezia, some of which are also found in other birds and mammals.

A paper reports the first isolation of Aspergillus fumigatus from the soil of gentoo penguin nests in Antarctica and examines its pathogenic potential. This fungus has been found in penguin nest soils during the Antarctic summer, when surface temperatures rise above freezing and allow microbial activity. With climate change warming things up, the conditions needed for the growth of this species can start earlier, last longer, or become more intense. Naturally, this can result in extended pathogenic activity on penguins and raise the risk of infection.

Antarctic fungi not only colonize the land or live on other organisms. They can play a big role in aquatic environments as well. Studying fungi from aquatic environments is important, because life in cold, wet, and sometimes slightly salty water shapes them in ways that land fungi don’t experience. Their enzymes are adapted to stay active in constantly wet conditions, remain stable even if salinity or pH fluctuates.

One study looked at the fungal diversity in two Antarctic freshwater lakes to see if these fungi could make extracellular enzymes that still work in the cold. Researchers found 154 fungal isolates, including both yeasts and filaments. Some were unique to Antarctica, while others were found all over the world but could handle the cold. When tested, most of these fungi produced proteases (which break down proteins) and lipases (which break down fats), while some made rarer enzymes like agarase or pectinase. These abilities not only help keep Antarctic lake ecosystems running but could also be valuable for industries like food, textiles, and environmental cleanup, especially for processes that happen in moist or water-based settings.

1. Detergents: cold-active enzymes can be added to detergents that work at lower temperatures. This means clothes can be cleaned without using energy on heating. 
2. Food Industry: Cold-active enzymes can process foods without cooking them. This is particularly important for things like dairy fermentation, seafood processing, etc. This preserves the flavor, color and nutrients of the food that would otherwise be destroyed by heat. 
3. Bioremediation: Spills (like oil leaks in polar and cold marine environments) need cleanup methods that work at low temperatures. Cold-active enzymes can break down pollutants in water and soil far more effectively than regular enzymes that lose most of their activity in the cold.