ANTARCTIC DESSERT

PRESENTOR:
Markkian Glenn G. Querijero
 ANTARCTIC
DESSERT
The Antarctic Desert, Earth's largest desert,
presents a stark and otherworldly landscape at the
southernmost reaches of our planet.
While the term "desert" often conjures images of
hot, sandy expanses, Antarctica's desert status is
defined by its extreme cold and exceptionally low
precipitation.
This frozen wilderness, characterized by vast ice
sheets and glaciers, is not only the driest place on
Earth but also one of the coldest and windiest.
Amidst this seemingly inhospitable environment,
resilient mosses and lichens manage to eke out an
existence, serving as the primary representatives of
plant life.
The Antarctic Desert, with its unique challenges and
delicate ecosystems, stands as a testament to the
planet's incredible diversity and the ability of life to
adapt to even the harshest conditions.
About Antarctic Dessert
The Size which covers 14.2 million
square kilometers (5.5 million square
miles).
It’s coldest desert on Earth, even
colder than the planet's other polar
desert,
The average temperature in the
interior throughout the year is about -
57°C, with the minimum temperature
being -90°C during the winter
season. Although the coast is
warmer, and temperatures can reach
a maximum of between -2°C and
8°C during the summer.
How much of Antarctica is covered in ice?
• Approximately 98% of the Antarctic continent is covered by a
permanent ice sheet.
• At its deepest, Antarctica’s ice is 4.5km (2.7 miles) thick. If it
melted, global sea levels would rise about 60 m (200 ft).
• That’s a lot of ice. And due to Antarctica’s desert conditions, it
has taken an impressive 45 million years for it to grow to its
current thickness.
Why is Antarctica a desert?
• A desert is defined by the amount of precipitation (rain,
snow, mist and fog) in an area. A region that receives very
little precipitation (the exact amount depends on who you
ask) is classified as a desert.
• There are many types of deserts, including subtropical,
coastal and polar deserts. What they all have in common is a
barren, windswept landscape, which makes it difficult for
plants and animals alike to gain a foothold on land. This all
certainly applies to Antarctica.
Abiotic Factors Affecting the Biome
 Dominant plants
• The dominant plants are mosses and lichens. These hardy organisms have
adapted to the extreme cold, low temperatures, and limited growing seasons
of Antarctica. Some of the dominant plant species in the region include:
• Mosses: Mosses such as Schistidium antarctici and Ceratodon purpureus are
commonly found in Antarctica. They form dense mats close to the ground,
taking advantage of the limited sunlight and moisture available.
• Lichens: Lichens are a symbiotic association of a fungus with a photosynthetic
partner, usually an alga or cyanobacterium. In Antarctica, lichens like Usnea
and Buellia species are prevalent. Lichens are well-suited to survive in harsh
environments and can be found growing on rocks and other surfaces.
 Mosses

Schistidium antarctici Ceratodon purpureus

Is a species of moss found in Antarctica and
subantarctic islands. It lives in compact
clumps that are yellowish green at the top
and brownish black at the bottom. It grows
on both soil and rocks
Is a dioicous moss with a color ranging from
yellow-green to red. The height amounts to 3
centimeters.
Lichens
Usnea
Is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose
lichens that grow like leafless mini-shrubs or tassels
anchored on bark or twigs. The genus is in the family
Parmeliaceae. It grows all over the world. Members
of the genus are commonly called old man's beard,
beard lichen, or beard moss
Buellia
Is a genus of mostly lichen-forming fungi in the family
Caliciaceae. The fungi are usually part of a crustose
lichen. In this case, the lichen species is given the
same name as the fungus. But members may also
grow as parasites on lichens. The algae in the lichen is
always a member of the genus Trebouxia.
DOMINANT ANIMALS
HUMAN INFLUENCE
TREATS