Please note that final assignment is subject to the student qualifying for FWS Placement. If a student is allowed to work without having a FWS Referral Form signed by all parties and on file in this office, your department will be responsible for compensating the student.
Antarctica is considered a desert, with annual precipitation of only 200 mm (8 inches) along the coast and far less inland. Only cold-adapted organisms survive there, including many types of algae, animals (for example mites, nematodes, penguins, seals and tardigrades), bacteria, fungi, plants, and protista.
It's hard to picture a creature that could not only live but also thrive in such a harsh and inhospitable environment. Yet, many animals besides the famous black and white bird can be found in the seas and on the icy grounds of Antarctica. Fish, seals, and krill are just a few that have made Antarctica their home, enduring winds up to 320 km/h (199 mph) and surviving the continent that contains the largest desert in the world.