Snow algae blooms are beneficial for microinvertebrates assemblages (Tardigrada and Rotifera) on seasonal snow patches in Japan
Abstract Although studies on snow algae and macroinvertebrates have been frequently conducted on snow patches, only few surveys have been focused on microinvertebrates which reach high biomass and play various trophic roles in other cold habitats. The aims of this study were (1) to search for microi...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2021-03-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-85462-5 |
| _version_ | 1818682840653496320 |
|---|---|
| author | Masato Ono Nozomu Takeuchi Krzysztof Zawierucha |
| author_facet | Masato Ono Nozomu Takeuchi Krzysztof Zawierucha |
| author_sort | Masato Ono |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Although studies on snow algae and macroinvertebrates have been frequently conducted on snow patches, only few surveys have been focused on microinvertebrates which reach high biomass and play various trophic roles in other cold habitats. The aims of this study were (1) to search for microinvertebrates in seasonal surface snow patches located on the slope of Mt. Gassan, in northern Japan, and (2) to identify factors determining their distribution associated with snow algal blooms of various colorations (orange, green, and golden-brown) collected from the same sampling site over two seasons (2018, 2019). Microscopic observation revealed presence of two major groups of microinvertebrates: Tardigrada and Rotifera. They were concentrated in green snow colored by blooms of Chloromonas sp. in comparison to orange or golden-brown snow and only a few were found in white snow. Mean body length of tardigrades increased throughout the melt season, their intestine content was green and they laid eggs on colored snow. These results suggest that tardigrades preferentially grew and reproduced on green snow patches. Population densities of tardigrades, rotifers and concentration of chlorophyll a were significantly correlated. Our study indicates that green snow patches in temperate mountainous forests constitute important and unique low-temperature ecosystems for microinvertebrates. Snow covered by algae is an unrecognized novel habitats for tardigrades and rotifers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T10:25:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e0a79f21ea93448fa6db866994d37a4c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T10:25:14Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-e0a79f21ea93448fa6db866994d37a4c2022-12-21T21:52:40ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222021-03-0111111110.1038/s41598-021-85462-5Snow algae blooms are beneficial for microinvertebrates assemblages (Tardigrada and Rotifera) on seasonal snow patches in JapanMasato Ono0Nozomu Takeuchi1Krzysztof Zawierucha2Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Chiba UniversityDepartment of Earth Science, Graduate School of Science, Chiba UniversityDepartment of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Adam Mickiewicz UniversityAbstract Although studies on snow algae and macroinvertebrates have been frequently conducted on snow patches, only few surveys have been focused on microinvertebrates which reach high biomass and play various trophic roles in other cold habitats. The aims of this study were (1) to search for microinvertebrates in seasonal surface snow patches located on the slope of Mt. Gassan, in northern Japan, and (2) to identify factors determining their distribution associated with snow algal blooms of various colorations (orange, green, and golden-brown) collected from the same sampling site over two seasons (2018, 2019). Microscopic observation revealed presence of two major groups of microinvertebrates: Tardigrada and Rotifera. They were concentrated in green snow colored by blooms of Chloromonas sp. in comparison to orange or golden-brown snow and only a few were found in white snow. Mean body length of tardigrades increased throughout the melt season, their intestine content was green and they laid eggs on colored snow. These results suggest that tardigrades preferentially grew and reproduced on green snow patches. Population densities of tardigrades, rotifers and concentration of chlorophyll a were significantly correlated. Our study indicates that green snow patches in temperate mountainous forests constitute important and unique low-temperature ecosystems for microinvertebrates. Snow covered by algae is an unrecognized novel habitats for tardigrades and rotifers.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-85462-5 |
| spellingShingle | Masato Ono Nozomu Takeuchi Krzysztof Zawierucha Snow algae blooms are beneficial for microinvertebrates assemblages (Tardigrada and Rotifera) on seasonal snow patches in Japan Scientific Reports |
| title | Snow algae blooms are beneficial for microinvertebrates assemblages (Tardigrada and Rotifera) on seasonal snow patches in Japan |
| title_full | Snow algae blooms are beneficial for microinvertebrates assemblages (Tardigrada and Rotifera) on seasonal snow patches in Japan |
| title_fullStr | Snow algae blooms are beneficial for microinvertebrates assemblages (Tardigrada and Rotifera) on seasonal snow patches in Japan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Snow algae blooms are beneficial for microinvertebrates assemblages (Tardigrada and Rotifera) on seasonal snow patches in Japan |
| title_short | Snow algae blooms are beneficial for microinvertebrates assemblages (Tardigrada and Rotifera) on seasonal snow patches in Japan |
| title_sort | snow algae blooms are beneficial for microinvertebrates assemblages tardigrada and rotifera on seasonal snow patches in japan |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-85462-5 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT masatoono snowalgaebloomsarebeneficialformicroinvertebratesassemblagestardigradaandrotiferaonseasonalsnowpatchesinjapan AT nozomutakeuchi snowalgaebloomsarebeneficialformicroinvertebratesassemblagestardigradaandrotiferaonseasonalsnowpatchesinjapan AT krzysztofzawierucha snowalgaebloomsarebeneficialformicroinvertebratesassemblagestardigradaandrotiferaonseasonalsnowpatchesinjapan |