McMurdo Dry Valleys Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER), University of Colorado
Abstract
This journal account describes the work of the limnology team on the lakes in the dry valleys of Antarctica in the form of a short story. It describes the long-term monitoring of lake water and organisms in order to create a picture of the ecology of the lakes. The account points out that galcial meltwater is essentially the only source of water and nutrients to the lakes and describes some of the specialized equipment used for sampling and testing. It also describes some of the organisms (extremophiles) which have adapted to the harsh conditions in the lakes. Educational levels: Middle school, High school, Undergraduate lower division
