Some ecological and taxonomic observations on the colored snow algae found in Rumpa and Skarvsnes, Antarctica

Abstract

Some ecological and taxonomic observations were made on the algae of colored snow found in Rumpa and Skarvsnes, Antarctica. The red-colored snow resulted from the accumulation of a red pigment in algae which was identified as an astaxanthin-like substance. The biomass of colored snow algae revealed in the range of 16-53×(10)^4 cells per ml of the melted water. The main components of colored snow algal flora were Scotiella polyptera, Cryocystis brevispina, Chlamydomonas sp. and Stichococcus bacillaris. It was recognized that the cells of Scotiella were frequently coated with thin membrane resembling the primary membrane in some Volvocalean zygospores.