Influence of vegetation on occurrence and color of snow algal blooms in Mt. Gassan, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan

• Published in: Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research
• Main Authors: Takumi Suzuki, Nozomu Takeuchi
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2023
• Subjects: Snow algae; deciduous forest; alpine snowpacks; nutrients; pigments; Environmental sciences; GE1-350; Ecology; QH540-549.5; Antarctic and Alpine Research; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1080/15230430.2023.2173138; https://doaj.org/article/026d4b3ac6f1475dbbb119147e78ccdf

ABSTRACTSnow algae are photosynthetic microbes growing on melting snow surfaces, the blooms of which are visible on alpine snowpacks in Japan during the melting season. We characterized the seasonal and altitudinal variations in algal blooms on Mount Gassan, Japan, to assess the influence of vegetation on the algal bloom. From May to July in 2019, we collected colored snow from lower deciduous forest to the upper alpine areas. In the lower forest area, chlorophyll-a concentration in colored snow samples increased concomitantly with deciduous tree budburst, whereas in the alpine area, chlorophyll-a increased from June to July, although at lower levels than in the forest area. The absorption spectra of algal pigments extracted from samples differed among study sites and seasons, with those obtained from forest sites mainly characterized by absorption of chlorophylls and primary carotenoids, whereas those from alpine sites showed an intense secondary carotenoid peak throughout the study period. Chemical solute analyses revealed a general abundance of phosphate in snow, which was significantly higher in forest than in alpine sites and positively correlated with chlorophyll-a concentration. These findings suggest that nutrient supply from the forest canopy largely controls the appearance of colored snow in this area.