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RHODORA, Vol. No. 95, 881, 21-24, 1993 pp. SNOW ALGAE NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND IN Duval Brian Algae from the genus Chloromonas known snow are to live in and in alpine These arctic terrain (Kol, 1968). cryophilic organ- isms can be seen as green patches near the surface of snow, typ- under ically the limiting sunlight of a coniferous canopy. Forest may from and spruce provide litter fir nutrients essential for algal growth (Hoham, 1976). proliferation generally sporadic Its is in what often appears to be uniform snowbank habitat. Reports of snow algae in the northeastern United have been from States all New the Adirondack Mountains of York (Hoham state et a!., May snow 1989). In 1992, green algae were collected from several New peaks in northern England; this the report of snow is first New from algae England. Warm spring days and snow meltwater germination and trigger snowbank migration of algal cells towards the surface. In the early morning and evening hours, light conditions are best suited to May observe the algae (Hoham, 1975). In 1992, green and orange snow populations were found on Mt. Mansfield and Jay algal New Peak Vermont, Mt. Washington Hampshire, and Mt. in in Katahdin Maine. were contained in Collections separately in Whirl-pak® bags packed in snow and transported to the labo- snowbank Parameters such depth, elevation ratory in a cooler. as showed and exposure were recorded. Light microscopy these solar C mix be Chloromonas brevispina Fritsch, or a of brevispi- cells to known na and spindle-shaped formally as Scotiella cryophila cells now The are believed to be asexual spores in the (Fritsch). latter may complex cycle of a Chloromonas that belong to the species life of Chloromonas polypteraYnisch{\\oh2im, 1983, 1992). March from snow on Mt. Greylock, In 992, algal cells collected 1 snow members Massachusetts were clearly not of cryophilic algae. However, complex community of microorganisms including a have been and other protists cyanobacteria, fungi, rotifers, ciliates From engorged Mt. Washington, noted on Mt. Greylock. ciliates component snow were an interesting of the with green algal cells snowbank ecosystem. and were genera Chionaster Selenotila Fungi belonging to the snow by snow Cohabitation of cryo- samples. present certain in may and fungus Phacidium occur via adherence philic algae the 21 Rhodora 22 95 [Vol. snow Figure Phase-contrast photomicrograph of orange algae, unidentified 1. = species, av. 15 x 25 /im (scale bar 40 jum). Collected from snow (Killingt May VT, 1992), (Hoham of algal cells to the web-like filaments of the fungus et Snow Nevada and Cascade Rang- 989), collected in the Sierra al., 1 es of California demonstrated this close spatial association (Du- New however, no such was noted unpubl.); relationship in val, England snow. man-made Algal with orange carotenoids were found on cells New snow England Secondary pigments at four ski slopes. serve from and to protect individual cells visible ultra-violet light (Har- dy and Orange populations were found Curl, 1972). algal in faint suncups (small depressions in the snow) at the edge of ski trails open shaded exposures. This organism in relatively to partially probably a new species not reported previously from snow is (Figure 1). Absorption spectra of solvent-extracted pigments from the or- New ange England snow algae were analyzed. Preliminary analysis show of the pigments contained in the cells absorption only at the wavelengths of 440, 460, and 640 nm; those absorption peaks are typical of Chloromonas collected in the western United cells by Red-pigmented Chlamy- States the author. of the genus cells domonas from western snow have an entirely different spectral i Duval-Snow Algae 23 1993] nm Peak 470 profile. light absorption near the wavelength region and indicates that carotenoids xanthophylls most predomi- are nant Thus in the red cells. absorption properties of these orange New from algal cells England appear similar to typical Chloro- monas (green) rather than Chlamydomonas snow (red) algae. Spectrophotometric an analysis suggested of ability certain cry- mo umaga suggest condary irradiation (Czygan, 1970; Bidigare et 1992). al., snow All algal samples are presently being examined and cul- Hoham tured in the laboratory of R. Colgate University. This at New snow note a partial report on the distribution of algae in is England. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Hoham thank R. of Colgate University for use of his labo- I ratory, guidance and accompaniment on these also field trips. I thank Program (MBL), the Planetary Biology Internship C. P. NASA Mckay Ames and for their support. LITERATURE CITED 3ARE, R. R., M. E. Ondrusek, M. C. Kennicutt, R. Iturriaga, H. R. A Hoham Harvey, R. W. AND A. Macko. 1992. photoprotective func- S. snow tion for secondary carotenoids of algae. Phycol. (in press). J. CZYGAN, R-C. Zellen 1970. Haematococcus und Chlamydomonas Arch. Mikrobiol. 74: pJuvialis nivalis. 69-76. Hardy, T. and H. Curl. 972. The candy-colored, snowfllaked alpine biome. J. 1 Nat. 74-78. Hist. 81(9): Hoham, W. snow Chloromonas R. 1975. The history and ecology of the alga life 213-224. pichinche. Phycologia 14: The and snow meltwaters upon 1976. of coniferous different effect litter . Arctic 377-386. 8: — snow Chloromonas po- 1983. The history and ecology of the alga life 2416-2429. lyptera comh, nov. (Chlorophyla, Volvocales). Canad. Bot. 61: J. — 1992. Environmental influences on snow algal microbes. In: B. Shafer, Snow Ed. Proceedings of Annual Western Conference. Jackson the Sixtieth Wyoming, Hole, 78-83. pp. - C Yatsko, Germain AND H. G. Jones. 1989. Recent discoveries P. L. 24 Rhodora 95 [Vol. New of snow algae in upstate York and Quebec Province and preliminary reports on related snow chemistry. In: Lewis, Ed. Proceedings of the Forty- J., Snow sixth Annual Eastern Conference. Quebec City, Quebec, pp. 196-200. and W. Iturriaga, R. C. Sullivan. 1989. Spectral absorption character- light McMurdo of individual microalgae from Sound, Antarctica. istics sea-ice XXIV. Review No. Antarc. U.S. 1989. Vol. J. 5. und und L KoL, E. 1968. Kryobiologie. Biologic Limnologie des Schnees Eises W. Kjyovegetation. In: H. Elster and Ohle, Eds., Die Binnengewasser, Vol. J. 24. E. Schweizerbartsche Verlagsbuchandlung, Stuttgart. 216 pp. DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS MA AMHERST, 01003