Ecophysiological and ultrastructural characterisation of the circumpolar orange snow alga <i>Sanguina aurantia</i> compared to the cosmopolitan red snow alga <i>Sanguina nivaloides</i> (Chlorophyta).

ABSTRACT: Red snow caused by spherical cysts can be found worldwide, while an orange snow phenomenon caused by spherical cells is restricted to (Sub-)Arctic climates. Both bloom types, occurring in the same localities at Svalbard, were compared ecophysiologically. Using a combination of molecular markers and light- and transmission electron microscopy, cells were identified as Sanguina nivaloides and Sanguina aurantia (Chlorophyceae). In search for reasons for a cosmopolitan vs. a more restricted distribution of these microbes, significant differences in fatty acid and pigment profiles of field samples were found. S. aurantia accumulated much lower levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (21% vs. 48% of total fatty acids) and exhibited lower astaxanthin-to-chlorophyll-a rat

SUBMITTER: Prochazkova L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7819945 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature