Climate change and carbon gain in Antarctic mosses
We are studying interspecific differences in thermal tolerance of Antarctic mosses in relation to climate warming.
The distribution of plants in continental Antarctica is chiefly limited by the availability of liquid water and sufficiently high temperatures to support growth. In this project, a combination of field and laboratory-based studies are being used to assess thermal plasticity of Antarctic mosses and how they might respond to variation in temperature and moisture availability with climate warming.
Partnerships
This research is being conducted in collaboration with Professor Gary Bryant (RMIT), Professor Sharon Robinson (University of Wollongong) and Dr Dana Bergstrom (Australian Antarctic Division), and is funded by the Australian Antarctic Science Program (AAS Project Grants 2780 and 3061).