Nieves penitentes are a new habitat for snow algae in one of the most extreme high-elevation environments on Earth

• Published in: Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research
• Main Authors: Lara Vimercati, Adam J. Solon, Alexandra Krinsky, Pablo Arán, Dorota L. Porazinska, John L. Darcy, Cristina Dorador, Steven K. Schmidt
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2019
• Subjects: snow algae; astrobiology; nieves penitentes; aeolian zone; psychrophiles; geo; envir; Penitente; Pinnacle; Antarctic and Alpine Research; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1080/15230430.2019.1618115; https://doaj.org/article/5ff9828f3c39442796bbbe3f214cbef8

Nieves penitentes are pinnacle-shaped ice structures found at high elevations in the dry Andes. Here we report, using molecular and microscopic approaches, the first description of snow algae communities inhabiting penitente ice at 5,277 m a.s.l., demonstrating a new habitat for snow algae in one of...