Analysis of element accumulation in cell wall attached and intracellular particles of snow algae by EELS and ESI

Snow algae frequently occur in alpine and polar permanent snow ecosystems and have developed adaptations to their harsh environment, where extreme temperature regimes high irradiation and low nutrient levels prevail. They live in a unique microhabitat, namely the liquid water between snow crystals. The predominant form appears as ‘red snow’ and in polar environment also ‘green snow’ frequently occurs. Light microscopy showed that most cells are densely covered by non-biotic particles of so far unknown composition. As snow normally contains very low amounts of nutrients, introduced mainly airborne like dust and precipitation, the inorganic particles at the surface of the snow algae may be important for their survival.By using electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and electron spectroscopic imaging (ESI), we investigated element distribution in ultrathin sections of snow algae from different polar (Svalbard, 5 m a.s.l., 79°N and maritime Antarctic, King George Island, 10 m a.s.l., 62°S) and alpine habitats (2400–3100 m a.s.l. Tyrol) for the present study. It turned out that the main elements of the cell wall attached particles are Si, Al, Fe and O independently from the origin of the snow algae. Interestingly, the same elements were also found in vacuolar compartments inside the cells. These vacuoles contain electron dense granules or crystals and are frequently found to be connected to the cortical cytoplasm. This finding suggests an uptake mechanism of the respective elements by pinocytosis. Co-transport of toxic aluminium together with silicon may be unavoidable as the inorganic nutrient uptake of the snow algae is limited to the thin water layer between the ice crystals. However, formation of insoluble aluminium silicates may serve as detoxification mechanism.