Kryal

As Kryal the habitat of snow and glaciers is called in ecology. Settled mainly older snow and remain so, especially in the climate regions where snow and ice get longer - the polar and high mountain regions. The inhabitants of the Kryal be distinguished in Kryoflora and Kryofauna.

Subdivision

Kryoflora

The Kryoflora consists mostly of unicellular algae, the so-called snow algae, such as various species of the genera Chlamydomonas and Chloromonas. The first mentions can be found from the 17th century travelogues, such as in the Friederich Martens 1671 written description of a voyage to Spitsbergen and Greenland and in the Voyages dans les Alpes by Horace - Bénédict de Saussure in 1786, a journey through the European Alps. Scientific closer to the phenomenon of red snow was then examined (or " Blood Snow" ) on the basis of samples from the Baffin Bay ( Canada ), which was collected during a British expedition in search of a Northwest Passage.

In contrast to the then and still partially prevailing opinion that the red snow is only caused by a type of algae called Chlamydomonas nivalis, colleagues pointed out in their monograph already highlighted the diversity of Kryovegetation. Recent studies and genetic studies point to an extraordinary diversity of micro-algae and other organisms that colonize the eternal snow and ice of the polar and alpine regions of our planet as a living space. In recent times, is also being investigated whether it is possible the adaptation strategies of microorganisms use to a life at 0 ° C and biotechnology for humans. This includes, for example, the red color of the algae spores, which is caused by various carotenoids and the reason for the term of the blood is snow. These plant pigments and other ingredients can be, for example, as a dietary supplement with antioxidant activity and also use due to its preventative properties in medicine for humans.

In addition to these microscopic plants, but also fungi and bacteria are known to colonize the Kryal. Together with the Kryofauna all of these organisms are referred to as Kryoseston.

The Kryoflora depends on the pH of the snow and the basement rocks.

Kryofauna

The Kryofauna consists primarily of insects, especially here where springtails, snow fleas and mosquitoes snow are important.

Importance

Global significance of the Kryoflora, since it leads to pigmentation of the snow. This leads to a reduction of the albedo of the snow and increased absorption of solar radiation. This makes the snow melt is intensified again.

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