Research Mentor(s)
Robin Kodner
Description
As temperatures rise and irradiance increases during the summer, intense snow algae blooms occur in Mount Watson in the North Cascades. These organisms are primary producers that reproduce in the liquid of the snow melt that occurs during this time. Global warming is causing this season to be warmer, which can increase the rate of wildfires. It is unknown how the ash that gets emitted from these fires impacts the snow algae community. To observe these effects, we first collected samples of snow algae from Mount Watson in the North Cascades. We then performed an experiment to analyze how different concentrations of ash affects the organism’s physiology and population numbers over a 24-hour period. The results suggest that the ash influenced both the population numbers and photosynthetic yield of the snow algae over time. High numbers of the fungi Chionaster nivalis were found in the samples with the algae, and the results suggest that their population numbers were also affected over time. These trends could be due to the elements in the ash providing nutrients to the organisms. The results could also be due to other factors such as animals consuming the algae and fungi, including rotifers that inhabit the same environment.
Document Type
Event
Start Date
May 2022
End Date
May 2022
Location
Carver Gym (Bellingham, Wash.)
Department
CSE - Biology
Genre/Form
student projects; posters
Type
Image
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
The effect of wildfire ash on the population numbers and physiology of a snow algae community from the North Cascades
Carver Gym (Bellingham, Wash.)
As temperatures rise and irradiance increases during the summer, intense snow algae blooms occur in Mount Watson in the North Cascades. These organisms are primary producers that reproduce in the liquid of the snow melt that occurs during this time. Global warming is causing this season to be warmer, which can increase the rate of wildfires. It is unknown how the ash that gets emitted from these fires impacts the snow algae community. To observe these effects, we first collected samples of snow algae from Mount Watson in the North Cascades. We then performed an experiment to analyze how different concentrations of ash affects the organism’s physiology and population numbers over a 24-hour period. The results suggest that the ash influenced both the population numbers and photosynthetic yield of the snow algae over time. High numbers of the fungi Chionaster nivalis were found in the samples with the algae, and the results suggest that their population numbers were also affected over time. These trends could be due to the elements in the ash providing nutrients to the organisms. The results could also be due to other factors such as animals consuming the algae and fungi, including rotifers that inhabit the same environment.