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Related Experiment Video

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Author Spotlight: Optimizing Growth Factors for Production of Biotechnologically Relevant Secondary Metabolites

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Published on: October 25, 2024

Community-driven variations in snow algae color modulate snow albedo reduction.

Pablo Almela¹, James J Elser², Anthony Zmuda¹

¹Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, 55108, USA.

The New Phytologist

|November 26, 2025

Summary

Snow algae blooms vary in color due to distinct algal communities and pigment composition. This variation significantly impacts snow

Keywords:

albedo astaxanthin community composition phylogenetic analysis pigment signature red snow snow algae snow reflectance

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Published on: October 26, 2019

Area of Science:

* Cryosphere science and microbial ecology.
* Investigating biological impacts on snowpack optics and energy balance.

Background:

* Snow algae blooms alter snow color and surface energy balance.
* The biological drivers of this variability are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

* To determine how pigment composition and community structure influence snow algae bloom optical properties.
* To quantify the impact of biological characteristics on snow reflectance and radiative forcing.

Main Methods:

* Analysis of spectral reflectance, pigment composition (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography), and algal community composition (18S rRNA amplicon sequencing) of red, orange, and green snow algae blooms.
* Comparison of optical properties and radiative forcing across different bloom colors.

Main Results:

* Astaxanthin was the dominant pigment in all blooms; chlorophyll a was highest in green blooms.
* Distinct algal taxa were associated with each bloom color: Sanguina in red, Chloromonas in green/orange.
* Red blooms exhibited the lowest reflectance and highest radiative forcing (56 W m⁻²), increasing snowpack energy absorption and localized melting.

Conclusions:

* Snow algae bloom color is a visual indicator of distinct community compositions and pigment pools.
* These biological differences significantly influence snowfield radiative balance and melting dynamics.
* Bloom color is an emergent property influenced by multiple biological and environmental factors.