Articles | Volume 23, issue 21
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-8259-2026
© Author(s) 2026. 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-23-8259-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
13 Nov 2026
Research article |
| 13 Nov 2026
| 13 Nov 2026
Morphological and phylogenic variability of red snow algae in snowpacks along a glacial valley in Alaska
Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
Center for Ecological Research, Kyoto University, Shiga, Japan
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Kino Kobayashi
Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
Arctic Environment Research Center, National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR), Tokyo, Japan
Takumi Suzuki
Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
Earth Observation Research Center, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Ibaraki, Japan
Ryohei Abe
Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
Suzunosuke Usuba
Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
Jun Uetake
Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan
Nozomu Takeuchi
Center for Environmental Remote Sensing, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
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Short summary
We studied red snow in Alaska to learn why these blooms vary in their microscopic life. By examining snow using microscopes and genetic analysis, we found that the ground beneath, either glacier ice or soil, dictates which algae grow. Algae on ice were mostly round, while those on soil were larger and had diverse shapes. Factors like snow depth mattered more than nutrients. This proves the underlying surface acts as a reservoir for life, shaping how red snow develops.
We studied red snow in Alaska to learn why these blooms vary in their microscopic life. By...
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