Exploring Antarctic lichen biodiversity
Lichens show amazing diversity. This brightly coloured example was photographed in Scotland. © William Purvis
7 October 2009
A new project established by Dr William Purvis, one of the Botany Department’s lichen experts, will evaluate lichen biodiversity in the Antarctic.
It is one of a number of Museum projects investigating the impact climate change is having on lichen biodiversity.
‘By understanding the vulnerability of different lichen species, we can use them as a warning system for climate change across the planet,’ says Dr Purvis.
Project objectives
As part of the research, Dr Purvis will obtain fresh samples of saxicolous crustose lichens growing on different mineralised rocks on sub-Antarctic Signy Island and develop base-line monitoring. The project will generate new specimens not represented in collections, and provide a basis for interdisciplinary studies.
Funding
The project, entitled ‘Exploring Antarctic saxicolous crustose lichen biodiversity under global climate change’, has been awarded a grant from the British Antarctic Survey as part of their Antarctic Funding Initiative - Collaborative Gearing Scheme (CGS).
