New Zealand Journal of Botany abstract
Distribution of coloured snow and associated algal genera in New Zealand
W. H. THOMAS
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla
California 92093-0218, U.S.A.
P. A. BROADY
Department of Plant and Microbial Sciences
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch, New Zealand
Abstract Mainly during the period 1991 to 1995, the
distribution of coloured snow throughout New Zealand was determined from
questionnaires returned by mountain travellers. Forty-five positive sightings
were obtained, four from Tongariro National Park in the North Island and the
remainder from the Southern Alps. Snow was commonly pink to red but sometimes
orange or yellow. During the late spring and summer months, but never in
winter, colour occurred mostly as patches in old, waterlogged snow but
occasionally was continuously distributed throughout a snowfield. The colour
was generally on the snow surface but could extend to 15 cm depth. Fifteen
samples of coloured snow meltwater were examined microscopically. All algae
were members of the Chlorophyta, the most frequently observed being
Chlamydomonas. In some samples, sparse numbers of
Cryocystis,
Scotiella,
Troschiscia,
Koliella, and
Raphidonema
were observed. The algal assemblages are similar to those found outside New
Zealand. This survey will serve as a basis for further investigations of these
interesting algae in New Zealand.
Keywords Coloured snow; snow algae; New Zealand;
distribution; Chlamydomonas
B96023
Received 11 April 1996; accepted 20 September 1996
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