Biological evolution of Antarctic lakes

Project aim

The lakes of the Vestfold Hills range from around 1000 -10,000 years old and from freshwater to hypersaline. They are of marine origin, formed as land rose during ice sheet retreat. Their plankton is dominated by micro-organisms, with few invertebrates. The youngest lakes have a microbial plankton similar to the sea. Thus there is a biological gradient related to age and salinity. I propose investigating these gradients to elucidate how the communities seen in the oldest, most saline lakes evolved, and the physical, chemical and biological factors responsible, thereby addressing an important biogeographical question.