Summary
The ability of cyanobacterial mats from Antarctic ponds and streams to recover from desiccation is described. Mats dominated by Nostoc dehydrated rapidly and were dry within 5 h of exposure. Nostoc mats recovered to pre-desiccation rates of photosynthesis and respiration within as little as 10 min of rewetting. Recovery of acetylene reduction activity was slower (>24 h). Phormidium dominated mats were less tolerant of desiccation, and recovery on rewetting from air-drying was not complete after 10 days. Viable diaspores were, however, found in Phormidium mats which had been exposed for 3 years. Partial hydration during aerial exposure improved the survival of Phormidium mats, but appeared to slow the recovery of Nostoc mats on subsequent rewetting.
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Hawes, I., Howard-Williams, C. & Vincent, W.F. Desiccation and recovery of antarctic cyanobacterial mats. Polar Biol 12, 587–594 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00236981
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00236981