Alpine glacier algal bloom during a record melt year

Millar, Jasmin L.; Broadwell, Emily L. M.; Lewis, Madeleine ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-9821-2291; Bowles, Alexander M. C.; Tedstone, Andrew J.; Williamson, Christopher J.. 2024 Alpine glacier algal bloom during a record melt year. Frontiers in Microbiology, 15. 12, pp. 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1356376

Before downloading, please read NORA policies.

Preview

Text (Open Access) © 2024 Millar, Broadwell, Lewis, Bowles, Tedstone and Williamson. fmicb-15-1356376.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. Download (3MB) | Preview

Abstract/Summary

Glacier algal blooms dominate the surfaces of glaciers and ice sheets during summer melt seasons, with larger blooms anticipated in years that experience the greatest melt. Here, we characterize the glacier algal bloom proliferating on Morteratsch glacier, Switzerland, during the record 2022 melt season, when the Swiss Alps lost three times more ice than the decadal average. Glacier algal cellular abundance (cells ml−1), biovolume (μm3 cell−1), photophysiology (Fv/Fm, rETRmax), and stoichiometry (C:N ratios) were constrained across three elevations on Morteratsch glacier during late August 2022 and compared with measurements of aqueous geochemistry and outputs of nutrient spiking experiments. While a substantial glacier algal bloom was apparent during summer 2022, abundances ranged from 1.78 × 104 to 8.95 × 105 cells ml−1 of meltwater and did not scale linearly with the magnitude of the 2022 melt season. Instead, spatiotemporal heterogeneity in algal distribution across Morteratsch glacier leads us to propose melt-water-redistribution of (larger) glacier algal cells down-glacier and presumptive export of cells from the system as an important mechanism to set overall bloom carrying capacity on steep valley glaciers during high melt years. Despite the paradox of abundant glacier algae within seemingly oligotrophic surface ice, we found no evidence for inorganic nutrient limitation as an important bottom-up control within our study site, supporting our hypothesis above. Fundamental physical constraints may thus cap bloom carrying-capacities on valley glaciers as 21st century melting continues.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.3389/fmicb.2024.1356376
ISSN:	1664-302X
Additional Keywords:	glacier algae, streptophyte, Morteratsch, glacier melt, Alps, climate change
Date made live:	20 Feb 2024 08:28 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/536939

Actions (login required)

View Item

Document Downloads

More statistics for this item...