Were there any snow algae on the Cryogenian ‘Snowball Earth’?

IF 2.7 2区地球科学 Q2 GEOSCIENCES, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Precambrian Research Pub Date : 2025-11-01 Epub Date: 2025-10-08 DOI:10.1016/j.precamres.2025.107935

Morten Smelror

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Unicellular algae have unique adaptation capacities for primary production in different extreme environments. In Neoproterozoic times (1000–542 Ma) a group of green algae developed evolutionary production and survival strategies like those of modern snow algae, and during the Cryogenian Sturtian and Marinoan global glaciations these algae inhabited ice covered shelves. To what extent snow algae existed on inland glaciers and snow-covered terrains is discussed. Evidence supporting a ‘Snowball Earth’ with terrestrial biomes and snow algae are morphological resemblances between aplanospores of modern cryophilic microalgae (Chlamydomonadaceae) found in high mountains in central Norway and Meso- and Neoproterozoic clusters of organic-walled microfossils and sphaeromorphic acritarchs. Geochemical biomarkers in Proterozoic rocks also provide possible links to carotenoids found in modern ‘red snow’. The abundant and diverse communities of present-day continental snow algae on glaciers and snow fields around the world may serve as a modern analogue to the Neoproterozoic ‘Snowball Earth’ glacial terrestrial biomes.

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在冰原时期的“雪球地球”上有雪藻吗？

单细胞藻类对不同极端环境下的初级生产具有独特的适应能力。在新元古代（1000-542 Ma），一群绿藻发展出了与现代雪藻类似的进化生产和生存策略，在低温世斯图亚特期和马里诺期全球冰期，这些绿藻居住在冰架上。讨论了雪藻在内陆冰川和积雪地形上的存在程度。支持“雪球地球”存在陆生生物群系和雪藻的证据是在挪威中部高山中发现的现代嗜冷微藻（衣藻科）的无平面孢子与中、新元古代有机微化石群和球形巨藻群之间的形态相似性。元古代岩石中的地球化学生物标志物也为现代“红雪”中发现的类胡萝卜素提供了可能的联系。当今世界各地冰川和雪原上丰富多样的大陆雪藻群落可以作为新元古代“雪球地球”冰川陆地生物群落的现代模拟物。

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来源期刊

Precambrian Research 地学-地球科学综合

CiteScore

7.20

自引率

28.90%

发文量

325

审稿时长

12 months

期刊介绍： Precambrian Research publishes studies on all aspects of the early stages of the composition, structure and evolution of the Earth and its planetary neighbours. With a focus on process-oriented and comparative studies, it covers, but is not restricted to, subjects such as: (1) Chemical, biological, biochemical and cosmochemical evolution; the origin of life; the evolution of the oceans and atmosphere; the early fossil record; palaeobiology; (2) Geochronology and isotope and elemental geochemistry; (3) Precambrian mineral deposits; (4) Geophysical aspects of the early Earth and Precambrian terrains; (5) Nature, formation and evolution of the Precambrian lithosphere and mantle including magmatic, depositional, metamorphic and tectonic processes. In addition, the editors particularly welcome integrated process-oriented studies that involve a combination of the above fields and comparative studies that demonstrate the effect of Precambrian evolution on Phanerozoic earth system processes. Regional and localised studies of Precambrian phenomena are considered appropriate only when the detail and quality allow illustration of a wider process, or when significant gaps in basic knowledge of a particular area can be filled.