Zachary is a PhD student in microbial ecology. His project is exploring the extent and diversity of interactions between microbes and other trophic levels (e.g., mosses, lichens, microinvertebrates) in terrestrial Antarctica. Using a combination of meta’omics, biogeochemical analyses, and mesocosm work, his research also aims to reveal how biodiversity, community structure, and metabolic strategies are altered by short- and long-term climate change scenarios. The results will hopefully uncover how interactions at micro-scales influence broader ecosystem function and resilience in one of Earth’s most extreme and sensitive environments.

“Antarctica is deceptive: despite being one of the harshest terrestrial environments found anywhere on Earth, it is full of life – life which is diverse, complex, specialised, and which must be understood and protected given its essential role in maintaining ecosystem function and resilience in the face of climate change.”

— Zachary Galvani