Surface darkening by abundant and diverse algae on an Antarctic ice cap.

ABSTRACT: Algal blooms play important roles in physical and biological processes on glacial surfaces. Despite this, their occurrence and impacts within an Antarctic context remain understudied. Here, we present evidence of the large-scale presence, diversity and bioalbedo effects of algal blooms on Antarctic ice cap systems based on fieldwork conducted on Robert Island (South Shetland Islands, Antarctica). Algal blooms are observed covering up to 2.7 km² (~20%) of the measured area of the Robert Island ice cap, with cell densities of up to 1.4 × 10⁶ cells ml^-1. Spectral characterisation reveal that these blooms increase melting of the ice cap surface, contributing up to 2.4% of total melt under the observed conditions. Blooms are composed of typical cryoflora taxa, d

SUBMITTER: Thomson AI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11920422 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature