We evaluated endolithic fungal diversity associated with rocks sampled at the polyextreme Brazilian São Pedro and São Paulo archipelago using a DNA amplicon metagenomics approach. We detected 808,547 fungal DNA reads grouped into 92 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs). The rocks sampled were geologically characterized as mylonitized peridotites, serpentinized peridotites, and carbonate-matrix sedimentary breccias. Ascomycota was...

Globally, biodiversity loss is accelerating, with biological invasions representing one of the greatest threats to biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Increasingly, research visits to isolated locations, such as the sub-Antarctic islands, involve stringent biosecurity measures to limit the inadvertent import and establishment of non-native species in these regions. Notwithstanding, human activity remains the predominant so...

Ecosystem engineering is an important factor influencing species establishment in novel environments. Here we tested how shell middens created by kelp gulls ( Larus dominicanus ) affect the growth of candidate non-native plants under simulated Antarctic conditions. Calcium compounds derived from the shells raised the organic Antarctic substrate pH from 6.0 to 7.3 and resulted in increased plant biomass (21–100%) over a 14-week...

Strongly pagophilic, the Adélie penguin Pygoscelis adeliae has long been designated a sea ice obligate species, which included the requirement to find pack ice on which to molt. However, observations have accumulated over the years to question this attribute; therefore, we investigated this aspect of the species’ natural history strategy through a synthesis of published, unpublished, and historical records obtained Antarctic-w...

Plastics often contain additives such as flame retardants, plasticisers, and stabilisers, with phosphorus-based compounds playing a key role in microbial interactions. Most previous studies have focused on heterotrophic microbes targeting carbon backbones, but their degradation efficiency remains limited. This study examined the phosphorus-solubilising ability of autotrophic cyanobacteria carrying the phoD gene to weaken polyp...

Observing winter processes during the extended cold season is crucial not only for understanding polar and global coupled Earth system but also for enhancing capability of year-round prediction, especially in the context of Arctic amplification and the drastic decrease in sea ice extent and thickness at both poles. However, harsh environmental conditions and logistical challenges have left polar winter Earth system processes s...

Moss carpets are a common feature in the maritime Antarctic. They provide habitats for a diverse community of organisms, including microbial groups, micro-invertebrates, and micro-arthropods, all of which depend on the moss for their survival. Despite recognition of this important role, studies of the moss-associated biodiversity to date have rarely involved the application of modern molecular tools. This study focused on an e...

How climate change impacts pathogens in the natural environment is a critical ecological question. Yet, little is known of how rapid ongoing climate change in Antarctica and Patagonia will influence the fungal pathogens in the barren soils typical of these regions. Here, using DNA metabarcoding and LASSO regression, we identify climatic factors—and notably mean annual air temperature—as the best predictors for the taxonomic ri...

To effectively manage biological assemblages, a sound knowledge of the biodiversity is essential. The Southern Ocean shelf benthic assemblages are typically comprised of species, the names of which are shared across the huge expanse of the region, indicating large population sizes and good connectivity, inferring resilience. This is despite two decades of studies identifying cryptic or unrecognised species in many benthic grou...

Earth's polar regions are experiencing significant climate change, impacting global oceanographic and weather patterns. Arctic “greening” is well studied, but a debate has emerged about whether similar trends are occurring in Antarctica and whether and how remote sensing can assess them. Recent studies have introduced a concept of “greening” in Antarctica, framed primarily around moss cover expansion over bare ground. This int...

Antarctica is one of Earth's most untouched, inhospitable, and poorly known regions. Although knowledge of its biodiversity has increased over recent decades, a diverse, wide‐ranging, and spatially explicit compilation of the biodiversity that inhabits Antarctica's permanently ice‐free areas is unavailable. This absence hinders both Antarctic biodiversity research and the integration of Antarctica in global biodiversity–relate...