‘Glacier Blood’ Is Our Latest Nightmare - Gizmodo
It’s a phenomenon known as Chlamydomonas nivalis, wherein species of green algae that contain a red pigment undergo photosynthesis and stain the snow.
Since soil is full of bits of DNA shed by all kinds of life, the soil samples allowed the scientists to create a clear picture of where dozens of different varieties of algae live.The researchers found that different species of algae thrive at different elevations.
Two green microalgae varieties called Desmococcu and Symbiochloris, by contrast, only live at altitudes below 4,921 feet (1,500 meters).
The starkly separate distribution suggests that different kinds of algae are reliant on very particular thermal conditions to live.The scientists plan to continue their work with an expedition into the Alps this month, examining how blooms change during different seasons.
As far as why different algae species (red, green, etc) exists w.r.t elevation