Kaszab Zoltán (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 66. (Budapest 1974)

Kol, E.: Trochiscia (Chlorophyta) red snow from Swedish Lapland

ANNALES HISTORICO-NATURALES MUSEI NATIONALIS HUNGARICI Tomus 66. Budapest 1974. Trochiscia (Chlorophyta) Red Snow from Swedish Lapland By E. KOL, Budapest Abstract — Trochiscia red snow is a rare kryoseston discoloration. Until now the mass occurrence of Trochiscia americana KOL in North America and that of Trochiscia rubra Kol in Norway were found to cause red snow. In the snow-field of Swedish Lapland Trochiscia americana var. lapponica var. n. caused red snow. — 24 figures. Red snow is the most frequent kryoseston discoloration. It is a well known natural phenomenon in the higher mountains of both the northern and the southern hemisphere and even in the Antarctic. Instances, however, when two red snows are caused by one -and the same algal species, or identical assemblies of microorganisms are seldom found. From scientific view, therefore, it is of great impotance to collect samples from each red snow, because generally in each occasion a new algal species or a new assembly of algae is found in them. In this paper too, an entirelly new Trochiscia red snow found in the Swedisn Lappland will be reported on. Red snow is a frequent natural phenomenon in the Scandinavian mountains. The snow vegetation of Norway has been dealt with by a number of authors: BOHLIN (1893, 1895), BOLDT (1888), BORGE (1899), LAGERHEIM (1883, 1894), NORDSTEBT (1978), SKUJA (1964, STRÖM (1923, 1926), WILLE (1879, 1903), WITTROCK (1883), KOL (1968). Red snow caused by immense masses of C'hlamydomonas nivalis (BAU.) WILLE (KOL 1968) has become known from numerous points in Norway. KOL (1963: 156) reports on three cases of red kryoseston discoloration from the vicinity of Finse, Norway which were caused by the mass occurrence of various microorganisms. The red snow of Hardangerj ökelen was caused almost without exception by G hlamydomonas nivalis (BAU.) , WILLE, tough Scotiella nivalis (SHUTTLEW.) FRITSCH and in a negligible quantity other microorganisms also occurred there

. In the rose-coloured snow of the other snow-field Trochiscia rubra KOL ( = Trochiscia cryophila var. rubra KOL) dominated, and besides this species Chlamydomonas nivalis (BAU.) WILLE and also other microorganisms played an important role. In the red snow of the third snow-field approximately 85 percent of the microorganisms was represented by G hlamydomonas sanguinea LAGERH. Collection — Norddalsfjeld Mt. over Ketterjaure Lake, Swedish Lappland, north latitude 68,5 N, circa 750 m, brick-red snow, circa on 3 m

2 surface. 10. August 1973 leg. A. BERCZIK. Also here I wish to express my best thanks to Dr. A. BERCZIK for the most valuable snow sample collected for me. Microorganisms in Trochiscia americana var. lapponica var. n. red snow The bulk of the brick-red snow collected in Norddalsfjeld mountains of Swe-, dish Lappland consisted of Trochiscia americana var. lapponica var. n. (Figs. 2—9). Table shows that in the red snow eight algae and two kryofungus species were living. From among the algal species five were kryobionts and two kryoxens: Gloeocapsa ralfsii (BOHL.) LEMM. and Stigonema sp.