Le Chlamydomonas nivalis

WELCOME TO THIS UNSEEN WORLD

BY: AFIQAH BINTI MUSTAFA KAMIL (185142)

LET’S GET TO KNOW MY

BELOVED ADOPTED MICROBE

Chlamydomonas nivalisWHICH IS ALSO KNOWN AS:

Snow algae

Red snow

Blood snow

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION

Kingdom:Plantae

Phylum:Chlorophyta

Class:Chlorophyceae

Order:Volvocales

Family:Chlamydomonadaceae

Genus:Chlamydomonas

Species:C.nivalis

WHAT ARE ACTUALLY

CHLAMYDOMONAS

NIVALIS?

1) Its blooming may extend to a depth of 25 cm with each cell measuring about 20 microns

to 30 microns in diameter2) Accumulating in shallow depressions in the

snow3) Its pigment absorbs heat that accelerates the

melting rate of glaciers and snowbanks

WHERE CAN WE FIND THIS SPECIES EASILY?

During summer month in Sierra Nevada of California that snow has lingered from winter storms at altitudes

10 000 to 12 000 feet

WHAT IS THE GREATEST PHENOMENON CAUSED BY CHLAMYDOMONAS NIVALIS?

WATERMELON SNOW!

WHAT ARE THE CAUSE OF WATERMELON SNOW?

• Chlamydomonas nivalis is a species of

green algae containing a secondary

red carotenoid pigment which is

astaxanthin

• Most of algae loves fresh water but

this species prefer freezing water

because it is CHRYOPHILIC

What actually happen to snow algae when they are

covered by deep layers of snow during winter

The algae lies dormant during winter months under drift of snow

The following spring, meltwater and nutrients reach the dormant cells and stimulate

germination

The resting cell release smaller, green swimming cells with two whiplike flagella that propel to the

surface to get sunlight

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT ALGAE• Its pigment similar to that found in tomatoes, red

peppers, many colourful flowers and autumn leaves

• The carotenoids maybe orange, yellow or yellow green as in carrots and the fleshy meat of avocados

• It is also found in variety of animals for example, exoskeleton of shrimp, crabs, lobsters, brightly coloured corals, skins of fish and amphibians, egg yolks and pink plumage of flamingos

• Its pigment helps to protect the delicate cells of snow algae from intense solar radiation at surface of the snow

History of the Chlamydomonas nivalis• In the writing of Aristotles, this phenomenon has puzzled

mountain climbers, explorers and naturalists

• Some of them even thought it was caused by mineral deposits or oxidation products that were leached by rocks

• On may 1818, four ships sailed from England to search for the Northwest Passage and chart of Arctic coastline of North America

• Captain John Ross noticed that crimson snow that streaked the white cliffs like stream of blood as they were rounding Cape York on the northwest Coast of Greenland

METABOLISM AND NUTRITION

• Chlamydomonas nivalishave high metabolic activity because large number of mitochondria present

• Can find intracytoplasmic globules of pigment that join together that flow in vacuoles after local tonoplast dissolution and active cell wall synthesis in asexual reproductive stages

• Domination of oil droplets and starch grains in red asexual cyst

• Ribosomal-rich cytoplasm in green biflagellate zoospore

• Palmitic, stearic, oleic and behenic acids in cell

REFERENCE1. Armstrong, W.P. 1987. “Watermelon Snow.” Environment

Southwest Number 517 : 20-23

2. Duval, B., Duval, E. and R.W. Hoham. 1999. “Snow Algae of the Sierra Nevada, Spain, and High Atlas Mountains of Morocco.” International Microbiology 2: 39-42.

3. Kawecka, B. and B.G. Drake. 1978. “Biology and Ecology of Snow Algae.” Acta Hydrobiologica 20: 111-116

4. Thomas, W.H. 1972. “Observations of Snow Algae in California.” Journal of Phycology 8:19

MY THOUGHTDuring my research about this species, what I can say is that I gain a lot of knowledge about Chlamydomonasnivalis. Other than that, I also become used of reading

the journals and also encyclopedia to dig into more information thus making my scrapbook becomes more

awesome. Now, I have already understand that becoming a future microbiologist does required me to read a lot and also exploring more into this microbial world. I am now happy and very thankful for taking

this course as the biggest part of my life.

LET’S GET TO KNOW ME MORE

WHO IS ME?• Afiqah binti Mustafa Kamil

WHEN DO MY MOM CONCEIVED ME?• 7 April 1997

WHERE DO I LIVE?• Ambangan Heights, Sungai

Petani, Kedah

MY PASSION• Musical instrument, food

and travelling

HOW MANY SIBLINGS DO I HAVE?• None, I am the only child in

the family

WHAT IS MY PERSONAL GOAL?• To be a person that can

bring happiness to both of

my parents and achieve the

best moment in my life