Articles | Volume 22, issue 8
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-2087-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-2087-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| Highlight paper
| 
29 Apr 2025
Research article | Highlight paper |
| 29 Apr 2025
| 29 Apr 2025
Peltigera lichen thalli produce highly potent ice-nucleating agents
Rosemary J. Eufemio
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, USA
Biomolecular Sciences Graduate Programs, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, USA
Galit Renzer
Department of Molecular Spectroscopy, Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, 55128 Mainz, Germany
Mariah Rojas
School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
Jolanta Miadlikowska
Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
Todd L. Sformo
Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
François Lutzoni
Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
Boris A. Vinatzer
School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
Konrad Meister
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, USA
Department of Molecular Spectroscopy, Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, 55128 Mainz, Germany
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Lichens, the dominant vegetation in the Arctic, contain ice nucleators (INs) that enable freezing close to 0°C. Yet the abundance, diversity, and function of lichen INs is unknown. Our screening of lichens across Alaska reveal that most species have potent INs. We find that lichens contain two IN populations which retain activity under environmentally relevant conditions. The ubiquity and stability of lichen INs suggest that they may have considerable impacts on local atmospheric patterns.
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Lichens, the dominant vegetation in the Arctic, contain ice nucleators (INs) that enable freezing close to 0°C. Yet the abundance, diversity, and function of lichen INs is unknown. Our screening of lichens across Alaska reveal that most species have potent INs. We find that lichens contain two IN populations which retain activity under environmentally relevant conditions. The ubiquity and stability of lichen INs suggest that they may have considerable impacts on local atmospheric patterns.
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Ice formation is a key atmospheric process facilitated by a wide range of aerosols. We present a method to model and interpret ice nucleation experiments and extract the distribution of the potency of nucleation sites. We use the method to optimize the conditions of laboratory sampling and extract distributions of ice nucleation temperatures from bacteria, fungi, and pollen. These reveal unforeseen subpopulations of nuclei in these systems and how they respond to changes in their environment.
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Co-editor-in-chief
Peltigera clouds? This fascinating manuscript demonstrates the potential of Peltigera lichens from across a range of ecosystems to generate potent biological ice nucleators. These Peltigera lichen ice nucleators can be more potent than the bacteria Pseudomonas syringae, which is often viewed as the most efficient biological ice nucleators. Given the widespread occurrence of Peltigera across the globe, these lichen may be important contributors to biological ice nucleation.
Peltigera clouds? This fascinating manuscript demonstrates the potential of Peltigera lichens...
Short summary
Biological ice nucleation plays key roles in organism survival and in shaping Earth’s atmospheric patterns. Our pan-American screening of Peltigera lichens reveals that the lichen thalli produce highly active ice nucleators (INs) resistant to freeze–thaw cycles. Notably, a pure fungal culture from Peltigera britannica released the most potent INs reported to date. Given the global abundance of these lichens, the INs may be important contributors to atmospheric processes.
Biological ice nucleation plays key roles in organism survival and in shaping Earth’s...
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