Crimson Snow Algae: Ancient Reports & Impact of Climate Change

[256bits]

There was/is a recent report of red snow in Antartica, Ukranian Research station Verdnasky which got me interested.
I had never heard of this phenomenom before.
While some colored snow can be attributed to mineral content, this particular red snow is biological in origin.

Apparantly reports go as far back in antiquity as reports from Aristotle, so it's nothing at all that new.
This type of red snow is caused by the red pigment produced in a green algae chlamydomonas nivalis able to thrive in cold environments in the Arctic, Antarctic, and high altitudes. The red pigment protects the cell from ultraviolet radiation from the sun in the summer months with more sunlight and liquid water when the algae comes out of its dormant state. Buried beneath a snow cover, flagellate cells move towards the surface.

One discussion, of many.
https://www.independent.co.uk/envir...on-ukraine-algae-climate-change-a9361091.html

Wiki also has an article, and includes the report from an expedition to the Arctic in 1818, Captain John Ross.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watermelon_snow

I had always considered snow to be pretty much lifeless, but some estimates are of a million of these creatures in teaspoon of meltwater.

If anyone has anything to add feel free to do so.

 

[Keith_McClary]

I have seen this in the Canadian Rockies.
The wiki says "Red-snow algae have been shown experimentally to be limited by both nutrients (N, P, and K) and liquid water" but does not say where the nutrients come from.

 

[256bits]

You have seen it, must be extraordinaire.
Snow does contain some dust particles.
If you melt snow there is always a bit of 'mud' at the bottom of the container.
There might be enough dissolved in the water for the critters to chow down on for the mineral content.
A chemical analysis of melt water would be in order.

 

[Keith_McClary]

Antarctica’s Pretty Pink Snow Is Brought to You By Algae and Penguin Poop
“One animal’s waste is another animal’s banquet.”

 

[Mark44]

I've seen this phenomenon a lot the Washington Cascades and Olympics on the surfaces of glaciers. The only nutrients I can think of must come from wind-blown pollen or dust or anything else carried by the wind. In the late spring, when the temps rise, glacier surfaces form "sun cups," local depressions in the snow a foot or two wide. Any dust or pollen would tend to settle in these sun cups, possibly providing nutrients for the algae. Although the surface of a glacier is pretty barren, it's amazing how many living organisms it supports. I've seen spiders walking around, as well as what we called ice worms, small worms about 1/4" long that live in the snow. During the day they come up by the thousands, but burrow down in the snow at nightfall.

In the Andes, the dryness and clear skies cause extreme sun cups, called "nieves penitentes," as shown in the photo.

 

[Keith_McClary]

penitentes

Penitentes de Jesús Despojado en el cortejo de este Domingo de Ramos. / JULIO GONZÁLEZ

 

[Mark44]

View attachment 258086
Penitentes de Jesús Despojado en el cortejo de este Domingo de Ramos. / JULIO GONZÁLEZ

Right, and this is how the snow features got their names.

 

[256bits]

This is more interesting than I thought it would be.

 

[256bits]

Here is a write up from the Ottawa Citizen on Science of Winter - Why are there tiny insects in the snow(2017)
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/science-of-winter-why-are-there-tiny-insects-in-the-snow

It doesn't really explain why, but does mention the spiders.
Seems to be a thriving community at certain times of winter, and free from most, if any, predators for these cold loving insects.

I was looking for the metabolism of these insects and how they can move muscles at low temperatures.
Wiki, does give some thrmo regulation examples, but not for the cold temperature type.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insect_thermoregulation

This gives some adaptations of cold-hardy insects.
Interesting read. Anti-freeze, diapause, mitochondrial degradation...
http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/arctic47-4-391.pdf?origin=publication_detail

 

[jim mcnamara]

History - During the lat 1700's and early 1800's New Mexico was cut off from the outside by geography and hostile neighbors. Most of the churches there diverged from standard Catholicism - they were called the Penitentes. They practiced self flagellation, for example. The church buildings still stand, and are known as Moradas. The one near my house had services on St Dorotea's day up until the year 2000.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penitentes_(New_Mexico)

Biology: There is an area of study on extremophiles, species that arise because of the existence of very hostile and vacant ecological niches. Places that do not have any competition from other species. And no predation.
Example:
Nematode (roundworm) , Halicephalobus mephisto - the Devil worm, that lives miles down in tiny crevices in solid rock. It was first discovered in a gold mine 3 miles down in solid rock.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halicephalobus_mephisto