Research Objectives:
During the first two decades of the 20th century, Europeans mounted scientific and exploratory expeditions to many parts of Antarctica. Base camps were abandoned once the expeditions were over, leaving behind thousands of artifacts, as well as the huts the explorers built for shelter and storage. Over the intervening 90 years, the extremes of the polar environment have actually protected some of the artifacts from rapid decay. More recently however, conservators have become concerned about the serious degradation of historical archaeological sites throughout the continent.
This season, project researchers will identify the microbial diversity associated with sites near Palmer Station. The study will evaluate microbes present in soils and in organic materials. These samples will provide cultures so that studies can be carried out on the biology and physiology of these unusual organisms in the laboratory. Research findings from this work will provide basic new knowledge on the microbes present at these sites and will elucidate decomposition processes in polar environments
Some of the gravest threats to the sites include
+ Wood in contact with the ground is being destroyed by a specific wood-destroying fungus. Various molds and cellulose-degrading fungi are attacking artifacts made of leather, textiles, and other organic materials.
+ Exterior wood is being degraded by nonbiological processes as well, including salt, ultraviolet radiation, and wind erosion.
+ Chemical damage within the huts is apparent, and the soils on the site are contaminated with aromatic hydrocarbons from petroleum products.
At three sites near Palmer Station, team members will collect soil samples and place experiments in the soil, buried to a depth of 5-10 centimeters. Then station personnel will retrieve the experiments once a year for the next two to three years. Retrieved materials will be placed in sterile bags and shipped to the principal investigator's home institution.
