Biology:Snow algae

From HandWiki
Short description: Group of alpine and polar freshwater algae
An example of snow algae

Snow algae are a group of freshwater micro-algae which grow in the alpine and polar regions of the earth.[1] These algae have been observed to come in a variety of colors associated with both the individual species, stage of life or topography/geography.[2][3] A typical snow algae in the alps and polar regions is Chlamydomonas nivalis. This variation is associated with both albedo differences of the snowy habitat and the presence of micro-invertebrates. Snow algae play a critical role in the trophic organization as primary producers who in turn are consumed primarily by tardigrades and rotifers.[4] Snow algae have also been found to travel great distances being carried by winds.

References

  1. Leya, Thomas (2013), Seckbach, Joseph; Oren, Aharon; Stan-Lotter, Helga, eds., "Snow Algae: Adaptation Strategies to Survive on Snow and Ice" (in en), Polyextremophiles: Life Under Multiple Forms of Stress, Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology (Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands) 27: pp. 401–423, doi:10.1007/978-94-007-6488-0_17, ISBN 978-94-007-6488-0, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6488-0_17, retrieved 2022-03-03 
  2. Spijkerman, Elly; Wacker, Alexander; Weithoff, Guntram; Leya, Thomas (2012). "Elemental and fatty acid composition of snow algae in Arctic habitats". Frontiers in Microbiology 3: 380. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2012.00380. ISSN 1664-302X. PMID 23112797. 
  3. Thomas, William H.; Duval, Brian (November 1995). "Sierra Nevada, California, U.S.A., Snow Algae: Snow Albedo Changes, Algal-Bacterial Interrelationships, and Ultraviolet Radiation Effects". Arctic and Alpine Research 27 (4): 389. doi:10.2307/1552032. ISSN 0004-0851. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1552032. 
  4. Ono, Masato; Takeuchi, Nozomu; Zawierucha, Krzysztof (2020-11-25). Snow Algae Blooming Are Benefitable for Microinvertebrates Assemblages (Tardigrada and Rotifera) on the Seasonal Snow Patches in Japan. doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-109493/v1.