📷 Image Credits: India Today
Living alongside the algae on the ice, scientists have discovered giant viruses lingering deep below. Every spring, as the Arctic emerges from months of darkness, a remarkable transformation takes place. Polar bears emerge from their dens, arctic terns return from their southern migration, and musk oxen wade northward.
But it’s not just animals that are reawakened by the sun’s warmth – algae lying dormant on the ice also spring to life, blooming and blackening large areas. This algal bloom has a significant impact on the ice’s ability to reflect sunlight, accelerating its melting and exacerbating global warming. However, researchers may have found a way to control snow algae growth – and potentially reduce ice melting.
Postdoc Laura Perini from Aarhus University’s Department of Environmental Science and her team have made an intriguing discovery of giant viruses living on the surface ice and snow of Greenland. These viruses, much larger than regular viruses, could play a crucial role in understanding and mitigating the effects of algal blooms on the Greenland Ice Sheet.
Unlike regular viruses, which measure 20-200 nanometers in size, giant viruses can grow up to 2.5 micrometers – larger than most bacteria. Their genomes are also much bigger, containing around 2.5 million letters compared to the 100,000-200,000 found in bacteriophages. These giant viruses were first discovered in the ocean in 1981, but this is the first time they’ve been found living on surface ice and snow dominated by pigmented microalgae.
Further research is ongoing to unravel the mysteries of these giant viruses and their interactions within the ecosystem. By studying their DNA and mRNA in samples, researchers hope to understand their role in controlling algal blooms and maintaining a delicate balance in the Arctic. As the Arctic continues to warm, these microscopic players could hold the key to preserving the region’s unique ecosystem and mitigating the impacts of climate change.
