Photophysiology and albedo-changing potential of the ice algal community on the surface of the Greenland ice sheet
Abstract Darkening of parts of the Greenland ice sheet surface during the summer months leads to reduced albedo and increased melting. Here we show that heavily pigmented, actively photosynthesising microalgae and cyanobacteria are present on the bare ice. We demonstrate the widespread abundance of...
Published in: | The ISME Journal |
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Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
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Oxford University Press (OUP)
2012
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ismej.2012.107 http://www.nature.com/articles/ismej2012107.pdf http://www.nature.com/articles/ismej2012107 https://academic.oup.com/ismej/article-pdf/6/12/2302/56425118/41396_2012_article_bfismej2012107.pdf |
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croxfordunivpr:10.1038/ismej.2012.107 2024-06-23T07:53:13+00:00 Photophysiology and albedo-changing potential of the ice algal community on the surface of the Greenland ice sheet Yallop, Marian L Anesio, Alexandre M Perkins, Rupert G Cook, Joseph Telling, Jon Fagan, Daniel MacFarlane, James Stibal, Marek Barker, Gary Bellas, Chris Hodson, Andy Tranter, Martyn Wadham, Jemma Roberts, Nicholas W 2012 http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ismej.2012.107 http://www.nature.com/articles/ismej2012107.pdf http://www.nature.com/articles/ismej2012107 https://academic.oup.com/ismej/article-pdf/6/12/2302/56425118/41396_2012_article_bfismej2012107.pdf en eng Oxford University Press (OUP) https://academic.oup.com/pages/standard-publication-reuse-rights The ISME Journal volume 6, issue 12, page 2302-2313 ISSN 1751-7362 1751-7370 journal-article 2012 croxfordunivpr https://doi.org/10.1038/ismej.2012.107 2024-06-11T04:21:34Z Abstract Darkening of parts of the Greenland ice sheet surface during the summer months leads to reduced albedo and increased melting. Here we show that heavily pigmented, actively photosynthesising microalgae and cyanobacteria are present on the bare ice. We demonstrate the widespread abundance of green algae in the Zygnematophyceae on the ice sheet surface in Southwest Greenland. Photophysiological measurements (variable chlorophyll fluorescence) indicate that the ice algae likely use screening mechanisms to downregulate photosynthesis when exposed to high intensities of visible and ultraviolet radiation, rather than non-photochemical quenching or cell movement. Using imaging microspectrophotometry, we demonstrate that intact cells and filaments absorb light with characteristic spectral profiles across ultraviolet and visible wavelengths, whereas inorganic dust particles typical for these areas display little absorption. Our results indicate that the phototrophic community growing directly on the bare ice, through their photophysiology, most likely have an important role in changing albedo, and subsequently may impact melt rates on the ice sheet. Article in Journal/Newspaper Greenland ice algae Ice Sheet Oxford University Press Greenland The ISME Journal 6 12 2302 2313 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Oxford University Press |
op_collection_id |
croxfordunivpr |
language |
English |
description |
Abstract Darkening of parts of the Greenland ice sheet surface during the summer months leads to reduced albedo and increased melting. Here we show that heavily pigmented, actively photosynthesising microalgae and cyanobacteria are present on the bare ice. We demonstrate the widespread abundance of green algae in the Zygnematophyceae on the ice sheet surface in Southwest Greenland. Photophysiological measurements (variable chlorophyll fluorescence) indicate that the ice algae likely use screening mechanisms to downregulate photosynthesis when exposed to high intensities of visible and ultraviolet radiation, rather than non-photochemical quenching or cell movement. Using imaging microspectrophotometry, we demonstrate that intact cells and filaments absorb light with characteristic spectral profiles across ultraviolet and visible wavelengths, whereas inorganic dust particles typical for these areas display little absorption. Our results indicate that the phototrophic community growing directly on the bare ice, through their photophysiology, most likely have an important role in changing albedo, and subsequently may impact melt rates on the ice sheet. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Yallop, Marian L Anesio, Alexandre M Perkins, Rupert G Cook, Joseph Telling, Jon Fagan, Daniel MacFarlane, James Stibal, Marek Barker, Gary Bellas, Chris Hodson, Andy Tranter, Martyn Wadham, Jemma Roberts, Nicholas W |
spellingShingle |
Yallop, Marian L Anesio, Alexandre M Perkins, Rupert G Cook, Joseph Telling, Jon Fagan, Daniel MacFarlane, James Stibal, Marek Barker, Gary Bellas, Chris Hodson, Andy Tranter, Martyn Wadham, Jemma Roberts, Nicholas W Photophysiology and albedo-changing potential of the ice algal community on the surface of the Greenland ice sheet |
author_facet |
Yallop, Marian L Anesio, Alexandre M Perkins, Rupert G Cook, Joseph Telling, Jon Fagan, Daniel MacFarlane, James Stibal, Marek Barker, Gary Bellas, Chris Hodson, Andy Tranter, Martyn Wadham, Jemma Roberts, Nicholas W |
author_sort |
Yallop, Marian L |
title |
Photophysiology and albedo-changing potential of the ice algal community on the surface of the Greenland ice sheet |
title_short |
Photophysiology and albedo-changing potential of the ice algal community on the surface of the Greenland ice sheet |
title_full |
Photophysiology and albedo-changing potential of the ice algal community on the surface of the Greenland ice sheet |
title_fullStr |
Photophysiology and albedo-changing potential of the ice algal community on the surface of the Greenland ice sheet |
title_full_unstemmed |
Photophysiology and albedo-changing potential of the ice algal community on the surface of the Greenland ice sheet |
title_sort |
photophysiology and albedo-changing potential of the ice algal community on the surface of the greenland ice sheet |
publisher |
Oxford University Press (OUP) |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ismej.2012.107 http://www.nature.com/articles/ismej2012107.pdf http://www.nature.com/articles/ismej2012107 https://academic.oup.com/ismej/article-pdf/6/12/2302/56425118/41396_2012_article_bfismej2012107.pdf |
geographic |
Greenland |
geographic_facet |
Greenland |
genre |
Greenland ice algae Ice Sheet |
genre_facet |
Greenland ice algae Ice Sheet |
op_source |
The ISME Journal volume 6, issue 12, page 2302-2313 ISSN 1751-7362 1751-7370 |
op_rights |
https://academic.oup.com/pages/standard-publication-reuse-rights |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1038/ismej.2012.107 |
container_title |
The ISME Journal |
container_volume |
6 |
container_issue |
12 |
container_start_page |
2302 |
op_container_end_page |
2313 |
_version_ |
1802644779894308864 |