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

Innes Thomson, Alex; Gray, Andrew; Colesie, Claudia; Thomas, Naomi; Moulton, Hannah; Convey, Peter ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8497-9903; Smith, Alison G.; Fretwell, Peter ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1988-5844; Peck, Lloyd ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3479-6791; Davey, Matthew P.. 2025 Surface darkening by abundant and diverse algae on an Antarctic ice cap. Nature Communications, 16, 2647. 13, pp. 10.1038/s41467-025-57725-6

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Official URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-57725-6

Abstract/Summary

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, dominated by co-occurring Chlorophyceae, Trebouxiophyceae, and Ancylonema. However, morphological variation and genetic diversity in Ancylonema highlight the influence of regional endemism and point to a large and under-characterised diversity in Antarctic cryoflora.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1038/s41467-025-57725-6
ISSN:	20411723
Additional Keywords:	Biogeography, Cryospheric science, Ecology
Date made live:	20 Mar 2025 14:55 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/537949

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1038/s41467-025-57725-6

ISSN:

20411723

Additional Keywords:

Biogeography, Cryospheric science, Ecology

Date made live:

20 Mar 2025 14:55 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/537949