Publication:
Cyanobacteria in the polar regions: Diversity, adaptation, and taxonomic problems

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Date

2021

Journal Title

Understanding Present and Past Arctic Environments: An Integrated Approach from Climate Change Perspectives

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Publisher

Elsevier

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Abstract

Cyanobacteria are interesting components of all polar habitats with many of them being present in different microhabitats. A long evolutionary history and strong adaptive tendencies allow these cyanobacteria to survive and thrive in these tough conditions with ease. They are known to be present in a wide array of microhabitats from the highly exposed barren rock surfaces having extreme doses of ultraviolet radiation to endolithic ecosystems having very less amount of light. The omnipresence of cyanobacteria is a result of the strategies they can design to adapt and flourish in these conditions. Key stress factors that test these survival capabilities include temperature, freeze-thaw cycles, desiccation, and intense light and ultraviolet radiations. In spite of their dominance and strong presence, cyanobacteria have been remarkably underrepresented in culture-based studies till now, which can be attributed to many reasons. It is hoped that in the coming times, better possibilities of cyanobacterial cultivation could be earmarked for efficient taxonomic and exploratory studies. � 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Keywords

Cyanobacteria, Endolithic, Hypolithic, Microhabitat, Photoautotrophs, Polar regions

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