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It is also possible to find algae associated with rocks or living in the thin film of melted water in the snow patches. [8] Presently there are over 300 algal taxa identified on Antarctica , with Bacillariophyceae ( Diatoms ) and Chlorophyta ( Green algae ) being the most widespread on Antarctica. [ 8 ]
Placopsis antarctica is a species of crustose lichen in the family Trapeliaceae. [1] It is found only in Antarctica, where it forms pale-coloured, circular patches on rock surfaces, typically 1–3 cm (3 ⁄ 8 – 1 + 3 ⁄ 16 in) across, with distinctive finger-like projections that break down into powdery structures.
Declines in the duration and extent of sea ice in the Arctic leads to declines in the abundance of ice algae, which thrive in nutrient-rich pockets in the ice. These algae are eaten by zooplankton, which are in turn eaten by Arctic cod, an important food source for many marine mammals, including seals. Seals are eaten by polar bears.
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Marine algae can be divided into six groups: green, red and brown algae, euglenophytes, dinoflagellates and diatoms. Dinoflagellates and diatoms are important components of marine algae and have their own sections below. Euglenophytes are a phylum of unicellular flagellates with only a few marine members. Not all algae are microscopic.
Snow algae are pigmented by chlorophyll and carotenoids and can be a variety of colors depending on the individual species, life stage, and topography/geography. [ 3 ] [ 4 ] The pigmentation of snow algae reduces snow and ice albedo , which can stimulate the melting of perennial snow and ice and exacerbate the effects of climate change . [ 5 ]
The largest marine algae are kelp species, which include bull kelp (Durvillaea antarctica), which can reach over 20 metres (66 ft) long and is thought to be the strongest kelp in the world. As many as 47 individual plants can live on 1 square metre (10.8 sq ft), and they can grow at 60 centimetres (24 in) a day.
Tardigrades, which are eight-legged micro-animals, are commonly referred to as water bears or moss piglets and are found all over the world in varying extreme habitats. First discovered in 1904 and originally named Hypsibius antarcticus, Acutuncus antarcticus is the most abundant tardigrade species in Antarctica. [1]