Algae

Environment 25 September 2020 By Donna Lu Phytoplankton are microscopic algae that are the base of the marine food chainNOAA Marine phytoplankton can grow under thick sea ice in near darkness, converting what little light exists into energy, though it is still unclear how these microscopic algae have adapted to grow in these extreme conditions.…

By Michael Marshall Researchers surveyed blooms of “snow algae” on Anchorage Island, AntarcticaMatt Davey Part of Antarctica is already green due to blooms of algae living on the snow. As the continent warms, more of it may turn green, but it isn’t clear what this will mean for the climate. Patches of “snow algae” have…

By Alice Klein Coral bleaching occurs in warm watersChris Jones It may be possible to protect coral reefs from the warming oceans by colonising them with heat-resistant algae. Coral reefs around the world are under threat from climate change, which is driving up ocean temperatures. Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, for example, has just suffered its…