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Clay Aerosols and Arctic Ice Algae

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2024

Kazue Tazaki ,
William S. Fyfe ,
Shigeru Iizumi ,
Yoshikazu Sampei ,
Hiroaki Watanabe ,
Masatoshi Goto ,
Yasuyuki Miyake  and
Shuji Noda
Kazue Tazaki
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-11, Japan
William S. Fyfe
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5B7
Shigeru Iizumi
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, Shimane University, Matsue 690, Japan
Yoshikazu Sampei
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, Shimane University, Matsue 690, Japan
Hiroaki Watanabe
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, Shimane University, Matsue 690, Japan
Masatoshi Goto
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy, Tsurumi University, Yokohama 230, Japan
Yasuyuki Miyake
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, Shinshu University, Matsumoto 390, Japan
Shuji Noda
Affiliation:
Institute of Industrial Science and Technology, Shimane 699-01, Japan
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Abstract

The red snow algae species found in snow at Resolute, Canadian Arctic, is a unicellular Chlamydomonas nivalis. Investigations by SEM-EDX, TEM, FT-IR, GC and GC-MS suggest that clay aerosols may provide nutrients for these unique systems. The clays provide P, S, K, Si, Ca, and Mg. Soot is also present and halite is very common. This salt probably plays a significant role in lowering the freezing temperature. The red snow algae is coated by a sticky thin film composed of both organic membrane material and inorganics consisting of mica and smectite. Green algae rich in Ca are involved in active photosynthesis while red algae are in a resting stage. Protamine, stearic acid, and decanoic acid were found at Ca-rich green cells while carminic acid and nopalcol BR-13 were found at Ca-poor red cells. The cell wall of red algae is composed of protein with cellulose. The major fatty acides in cells are all of even-carbon species with maximum concentrations of palmitic acid, stearic acid, and behenic acid, suggesting normal chemistry of algae species without C22. High concentration of n-alkanes with n-C24 is a characteristic component in this red snow algae, suggesting the presence of hydrocarbons that could be derived from the Arctic cold desert and/or organic debris of wind-transported bacteria. It is likely that such organic and inorganic matter provide the nutrient sources for the red snow algae in ice.

Keywords

Chlamydomonas nivalisClayey aerosolsElectron microscopyFourier transform infraredGas Chromatograph mass spectrometerRed snow algae
Type
Research Article
Information
Clays and Clay Minerals , Volume 42 , Issue 4 , August 1994 , pp. 402 - 408
Copyright
Copyright © 1994, Clay Minerals Society

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