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'''Psychrophiles''' or '''cryophiles''' (adj. psychrophilic or cryophilic) are extremophilic organisms that are capable of growth and reproduction in low temperatures, ranging from −20 °C to +10 °C. They are found in places that are permanently cold, such as [[Antarctica]] and the deep sea. They can be contrasted with thermophiles, which are organisms that thrive at unusually high temperatures. Psychrophile is Greek for 'cold-loving'. | '''Psychrophiles''' or '''cryophiles''' (adj. psychrophilic or cryophilic) are extremophilic organisms that are capable of growth and reproduction in low temperatures, ranging from −20 °C to +10 °C. They are found in places that are permanently cold, such as [[Antarctica]] and the deep sea. They can be contrasted with thermophiles, which are organisms that thrive at unusually high temperatures. Psychrophile is Greek for 'cold-loving'. | ||
Many such organisms are bacteria, but some eukaryotes such as [[lichen]]s, snow algae, fungi, and [[wingless midge]]s, are also classified as psychrophiles. | Many such organisms are bacteria, but some eukaryotes such as [[lichen]]s, snow algae, fungi, and [[Antarctic midge|wingless midge]]s, are also classified as psychrophiles. | ||
==Description== | ==Description== | ||
===Habitat=== | ===Habitat=== | ||
The cold environments that psychrophiles inhabit are ubiquitous on Earth, as a large fraction of our planetary surface experiences temperatures lower than 15 °C. They are present in permafrost, polar ice, [[ | The cold environments that psychrophiles inhabit are ubiquitous on Earth, as a large fraction of our planetary surface experiences temperatures lower than 15 °C. They are present in permafrost, polar ice, [[glacier]]s, snowfields and deep ocean waters. These organisms can also be found in pockets of sea ice with high salinity content. Microbial activity has been measured in soils frozen below −39 °C. In addition to their temperature limit, psychrophiles must also adapt to other extreme environmental constraints that may arise as a result of their habitat. These constraints include high pressure in the deep sea, and high salt concentration on some sea ice. | ||
===Adaptations=== | ===Adaptations=== | ||