Scanning electron micrograph of soft rot in wood collected from Wordie House (Base F,Detaille Island,Antarctic Peninsula). Fungi have attacked the cells causing cavities throughout the secondary cell-wall layer. BB Soft rot occurring in birch (Betula sp.) collected at East Base (Stonington Island,Antarctic Peninsula). Fungi have caused extensive erosion of secondary cell walls as well as cavity formation. The bar represents 100 µm. polar distribution. Although a few filamentous basidiomycetes were found, which are rare in Antarctica, the predominant group of decay fungiappears to be ascomycetes in the Cadophora genus.This genus is present in abundance at all but one of the visited historic sites on the Antarctic Peninsula, and preservation efforts need to consider these destructive microbes when trying to conserve these structures and artifacts. The environmental conditions on the Antarctic Peninsula appear more conducive to wood decay than the colder and drier Ross Sea region, and decay rates are likely to be much greater. The widespread and relative abundance of Cadophora spp. Suggests they are important organisms in soil ecosystem dynamics and nutrient recycling in these polar regions. This report also provides insight into the many other fungi that can be found in Antarctica, some of which undoubtedly play important roles for successful ecosystem functioning. Since little is known about these microorganisms, there is a need for continued study to better understand how they survive in these harsh environments and what nutrients they are utilizing in the absence of exotic substrates left behind by expeditions.