The recent snow events in Australia's highlands are sure to bring one species of wildlife to the forefront of your mind. I know it did for me. Snow algae. What a strange and magnificent thing.
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Persisting in the snowy mountains of Australia and most permanently snowy places of the world, there are a few different species that make up snow algae. Aristotle noted the red colour of snow but it wasn't until microscopes were invented that we knew it was algae. These organisms have eluded us for centuries and we are still learning the secrets of their lives.
Sometimes called blood snow - a slightly more visual description, or watermelon snow, which references the melon-like odour that is released when the snow algae are disturbed. I prefer the name that celebrates the most exciting part of the equation - algae.
There is discussion among scientists over exactly what constitutes algae. Seeking an exact definition will rob your evening, take you down a rabbit hole and leave you depressed at your lack of knowledge of single celled organisms.
The simplistic gist of the term "algae" refers to water dwelling primary producers that make energy from light in aquatic environments but exclude flowering plants, mosses, liverworts, ferns and a few others. There are many algae known commonly by colour like red, brown and green algae and some include cyanobacteria or blue-green algae in their definition.
There are many algae known commonly by colour like red, brown and green algae
Algae are just out in the world making their own way through life. Snow algae are the some of the toughest of them all - freezing temperatures, extreme solar radiation, low nutrients- they see your existence on six continents and raise you Antarctica.
Snow algae live in the liquid water beneath the snow crystals. They have a life stage with flagella - like a little tail - that allows them to swim to different depths in the snow to reach the light and temperature that they need. For most of their life cycle they don't move but can resist the freeze-thaw cycles of their extreme environments.
With advancing technology, our powers to explore the microscopic world are increasing. A warming climate means the future of snow algae is at risk in many places. It is time to reduce our carbon emissions and invest in renewable energy to keep all the interesting alpine species of the world safe.
