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