Question

How does lichens in Antarctica survive when there is almost continuous darkness in the winter?

Answer 1

lichen have very slow growth rate for example 1 cm growth in 100 years.

They have various kind of adaptations in photosynthesis process so that the algal part of lichen can do photosynthesis even at frozen temperature -20 also.

Lichens absorb water from saturated frozen conditions and do photosynthesis.

Many Antarctic lycan can survive in snow conditions the exist below the thin layer of snow and absorb water from water vapours.

They they can survive in unfavourable conditions for multiple years but they don't show growth in this period.

Slight rate of photosynthetis occurs in lichens and they have adaptation to do photosynthesis in very minute availability of light.