Antarctica: The Microbiology of an Unfrozen Saline Pond

• Published in: Science
• Main Authors: Meyer, George H., Morrow, Marie B., Wyss, Orville, Berg, Thomas E., Littlepage, Jack L.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 1962
• Subjects: Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.138.3545.1103; https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.138.3545.1103

A saline pond in a region in Antarctica where other lakes and ponds are frozen remains unfrozen at the prevailing low temperatures. The ecology of the pond is unique. A distinctive aerobic microbial population, though restricted to this natural habitat, adapts to growth in artificial culture. The growth habit of these organisms, as seen in nature and in laboratory culture, indicates a possible relationship between growth at high salt concentration, at low temperatures, and in media of low organic content.