Earth Science News
FLORA AND FAUNA
Arctic microalgae photosynthesize in near-darkness, study finds
illustration only
Arctic microalgae photosynthesize in near-darkness, study finds
by Robert Schreiber
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Sep 05, 2024

Photosynthesis can occur even under extremely low light conditions, according to an international study that examined Arctic microalgae's development at the conclusion of the polar night. Conducted during the MOSAiC expedition at 88 degrees northern latitude, the study found that microalgae can build up biomass through photosynthesis as early as the end of March, despite the sun barely rising above the horizon. During this time, the microalgae's environment under the snow and ice of the Arctic Ocean remains almost completely dark. The study, now published in 'Nature Communications', reveals that photosynthesis in the ocean is possible under much lower light conditions and can occur at much greater depths than previously believed.

Photosynthesis, the process of converting sunlight into biologically usable energy, is fundamental to all life on Earth. However, previous measurements of the light needed for this process have been significantly higher than the theoretically possible minimum. The new study in 'Nature Communications' demonstrates that biomass accumulation can occur with light levels close to this minimum.

The research team utilized data from the international MOSAiC research project, which involved freezing the German research icebreaker 'Polarstern' in the central Arctic's icepack for a year in 2019 to study the annual cycle of the Arctic climate and ecosystem. Led by Dr. Clara Hoppe from the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), the team focused on phytoplankton and ice algae, which are responsible for the majority of photosynthesis in the central Arctic. Remarkably, just a few days after the end of the polar night, plant biomass began to accumulate again, a process dependent on photosynthesis. The presence of extremely sensitive light sensors in the ice and water allowed the researchers to measure the minimal light available.

The findings were unexpected because photosynthesis in the Arctic Ocean occurred under snow-covered sea ice, where only a tiny fraction of sunlight penetrated. The microalgae had access to only about one hundred-thousandth of the light available on a sunny day at the Earth's surface. "It is very impressive to see how efficiently the algae can utilize such low amounts of light. This shows once again how well organisms are adapted to their environment," said Clara Hoppe.

The study was made possible through close collaboration among researchers from various disciplines. Sea ice researchers Dr. Niels Fuchs and Prof. Dirk Notz from the Institute of Marine Research at the University of Hamburg played key roles by combining measurements of the light field with biological data. "To measure such low light levels under the harsh conditions of the Arctic winter, we had to freeze special, newly developed instruments into the ice in the middle of the polar night," explained Niels Fuchs. Dirk Notz added, "It was particularly difficult to account for irregularities in the light field under the ice due to variations in ice thickness and snow, but in the end, we could be sure: There was just not more light."

The study's results have global significance. "Even though our results are specific to the Arctic Ocean, they show what photosynthesis is capable of. If it is so efficient under the challenging conditions of the Arctic, we can assume that organisms in other regions of the oceans have also adapted so well," said Clara Hoppe. This suggests that there might be sufficient light in deeper ocean regions to support photosynthesis, producing energy and oxygen, which would be beneficial to marine life such as fish. Consequently, the photosynthetic habitat in the global ocean could be much larger than previously assumed.

Research Report:Photosynthetic light requirement near the theoretical minimum detected in Arctic microalgae

Related Links
Alfred Wegener Institute
Darwin Today At TerraDaily.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
FLORA AND FAUNA
Japanese island eradicates rabbit-killing mongoose
Tokyo (AFP) Sept 4, 2024
Japan has wiped out all mongooses on a subtropical island, officials said, after the animals ignored the venomous snakes they were brought in to hunt and preyed on endangered local rabbits instead. About 30 of the venom-resistant predators were released on Amami Oshima, a UNESCO World Heritage site, in the late 1970s to keep down the population of habu, a pit viper whose bite can be deadly to humans. However, the snakes are mostly active at night when mongooses prefer to sleep and the toothy mam ... read more

FLORA AND FAUNA
Digicel Pacific Enhances Tonga Disaster Recovery with SES Satellite Services

A year on, rebuilding Libya's flood-hit Derna plagued by politics

Senegal migrant shipwreck death toll climbs to at least 26: navy

Trial removal of nuclear debris from Fukushima reactor begins

FLORA AND FAUNA
New category of electrolytes discovered: glass-forming liquid electrolytes

3D imaging technology unlocks new insights in plastic waste recycling

Engineers smash rocks to gain new insights into rapid compaction of granular materials

Salsa Satellite's reentry to be observed live from the sky

FLORA AND FAUNA
'Astonishing': Eaten eels recorded escaping from fish guts

Poland's weather agency warns most river levels low

Parched Iraqi Kurdistan town navigates regional water diplomacy

New Zealand's Maori anoint new queen, bury late king

FLORA AND FAUNA
Researchers explore cloud dynamics in the Arctic to enhance climate models

India launches flood warning systems at Himalayan glacial lakes

Finland's Lapland sees warmest summer on record

Greenland's Accelerated Warming Linked to Clear-Sky Radiation and Atmospheric Dynamics

FLORA AND FAUNA
Andean 'Viagra': Peru seizes hundreds of frogs used as aphrodisiacs

US bat decline triggered pesticide surge, 1,300 baby deaths: study

'We are starving': Malawi villagers cook toxic yams to survive drought

EU urged to better target mammoth farming subsidies

FLORA AND FAUNA
Super Typhoon Yagi threatens southern China

Vietnam evacuates 59,000 as toll from typhoon floods climbs to 82

Floods hit millions in West and Central Africa

Death toll from 'exceptional' Morocco floods rises to 18

FLORA AND FAUNA
Hungary seeks foothold in restive Sahel as West pulls out

China pushes smaller, smarter loans to Africa to shield from risks

China's Xi promises $50 billion for Africa over next three years

Burkina junta failing to stifle rising jihadist violence

FLORA AND FAUNA
New model sheds light on human dispersal phases across Europe

Nearly 200 land and environment defenders killed in 2023, says NGO

Islands play a key role in fostering language diversity

Pope appeals for religious unity at stadium mass in Indonesia

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.