Single-cell imaging reveals efficient nutrient uptake and growth of microalgae darkening the Greenland Ice Sheet

Laura Halbach; Katharina Kitzinger; Martin Hansen; Sten Littmann; Liane G. Benning; James A. Bradley; Martin J. Whitehouse; Malin Olofsson; Rey Mourot; Martyn Tranter; Marcel M.M. Kuypers; Lea Ellegaard-Jensen; Alexandre M. Anesio

doi:10.1038/s41467-025-56664-6

Single-cell imaging reveals efficient nutrient uptake and growth of microalgae darkening the Greenland Ice Sheet

Laura Halbach^*, Katharina Kitzinger, Martin Hansen, Sten Littmann, Liane G. Benning, James A. Bradley, Martin J. Whitehouse, Malin Olofsson, Rey Mourot, Martyn Tranter, Marcel M.M. Kuypers, Lea Ellegaard-Jensen, Alexandre M. Anesio^*

^*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift/Konferencebidrag i tidsskrift /Bidrag til avis › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › peer review

Abstract

Blooms of dark pigmented microalgae accelerate glacier and ice sheet melting by reducing the surface albedo. However, the role of nutrient availability in regulating algal growth on the ice remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate glacier ice algae on the Greenland Ice Sheet, providing single-cell measurements of carbon:nitrogen:phosphorus (C:N:P) ratios and assimilation rates of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), ammonium and nitrate following nutrient amendments. The single-cell analyses reveal high C:N and C:P atomic ratios in algal biomass as well as intracellular P storage. DIC assimilation rates are not enhanced by ammonium, nitrate, or phosphate addition. Our combined results demonstrate that glacier ice algae can optimise nutrient uptake, facilitating the potential colonization of newly exposed bare ice surfaces without the need for additional nutrient inputs. This adaptive strategy is particularly important given accelerated climate warming and the expansion of melt areas on the Greenland Ice Sheet.

Originalsprog	Engelsk
Artikelnummer	1521
Tidsskrift	Nature Communications
Vol/bind	16
Nummer	1
ISSN	2041-1723
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56664-6
Status	Udgivet - dec. 2025

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Halbach, L., Kitzinger, K., Hansen, M., Littmann, S., Benning, L. G., Bradley, J. A., Whitehouse, M. J., Olofsson, M., Mourot, R., Tranter, M., Kuypers, M. M. M., Ellegaard-Jensen, L., & Anesio, A. M. (2025). Single-cell imaging reveals efficient nutrient uptake and growth of microalgae darkening the Greenland Ice Sheet. Nature Communications, 16(1), Artikel 1521. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56664-6

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title = "Single-cell imaging reveals efficient nutrient uptake and growth of microalgae darkening the Greenland Ice Sheet",

abstract = "Blooms of dark pigmented microalgae accelerate glacier and ice sheet melting by reducing the surface albedo. However, the role of nutrient availability in regulating algal growth on the ice remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate glacier ice algae on the Greenland Ice Sheet, providing single-cell measurements of carbon:nitrogen:phosphorus (C:N:P) ratios and assimilation rates of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), ammonium and nitrate following nutrient amendments. The single-cell analyses reveal high C:N and C:P atomic ratios in algal biomass as well as intracellular P storage. DIC assimilation rates are not enhanced by ammonium, nitrate, or phosphate addition. Our combined results demonstrate that glacier ice algae can optimise nutrient uptake, facilitating the potential colonization of newly exposed bare ice surfaces without the need for additional nutrient inputs. This adaptive strategy is particularly important given accelerated climate warming and the expansion of melt areas on the Greenland Ice Sheet.",

author = "Laura Halbach and Katharina Kitzinger and Martin Hansen and Sten Littmann and Benning, {Liane G.} and Bradley, {James A.} and Whitehouse, {Martin J.} and Malin Olofsson and Rey Mourot and Martyn Tranter and Kuypers, {Marcel M.M.} and Lea Ellegaard-Jensen and Anesio, {Alexandre M.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2025.",

year = "2025",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1038/s41467-025-56664-6",

language = "English",

volume = "16",

journal = "Nature Communications",

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Halbach, L, Kitzinger, K, Hansen, M, Littmann, S, Benning, LG, Bradley, JA, Whitehouse, MJ, Olofsson, M, Mourot, R, Tranter, M, Kuypers, MMM, Ellegaard-Jensen, L & Anesio, AM 2025, 'Single-cell imaging reveals efficient nutrient uptake and growth of microalgae darkening the Greenland Ice Sheet', Nature Communications, bind 16, nr. 1, 1521. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56664-6

TY - JOUR

T1 - Single-cell imaging reveals efficient nutrient uptake and growth of microalgae darkening the Greenland Ice Sheet

AU - Halbach, Laura

AU - Kitzinger, Katharina

AU - Hansen, Martin

AU - Littmann, Sten

AU - Benning, Liane G.

AU - Bradley, James A.

AU - Whitehouse, Martin J.

AU - Olofsson, Malin

AU - Mourot, Rey

AU - Tranter, Martyn

AU - Kuypers, Marcel M.M.

AU - Ellegaard-Jensen, Lea

AU - Anesio, Alexandre M.

PY - 2025/12

Y1 - 2025/12

N2 - Blooms of dark pigmented microalgae accelerate glacier and ice sheet melting by reducing the surface albedo. However, the role of nutrient availability in regulating algal growth on the ice remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate glacier ice algae on the Greenland Ice Sheet, providing single-cell measurements of carbon:nitrogen:phosphorus (C:N:P) ratios and assimilation rates of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), ammonium and nitrate following nutrient amendments. The single-cell analyses reveal high C:N and C:P atomic ratios in algal biomass as well as intracellular P storage. DIC assimilation rates are not enhanced by ammonium, nitrate, or phosphate addition. Our combined results demonstrate that glacier ice algae can optimise nutrient uptake, facilitating the potential colonization of newly exposed bare ice surfaces without the need for additional nutrient inputs. This adaptive strategy is particularly important given accelerated climate warming and the expansion of melt areas on the Greenland Ice Sheet.

AB - Blooms of dark pigmented microalgae accelerate glacier and ice sheet melting by reducing the surface albedo. However, the role of nutrient availability in regulating algal growth on the ice remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate glacier ice algae on the Greenland Ice Sheet, providing single-cell measurements of carbon:nitrogen:phosphorus (C:N:P) ratios and assimilation rates of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), ammonium and nitrate following nutrient amendments. The single-cell analyses reveal high C:N and C:P atomic ratios in algal biomass as well as intracellular P storage. DIC assimilation rates are not enhanced by ammonium, nitrate, or phosphate addition. Our combined results demonstrate that glacier ice algae can optimise nutrient uptake, facilitating the potential colonization of newly exposed bare ice surfaces without the need for additional nutrient inputs. This adaptive strategy is particularly important given accelerated climate warming and the expansion of melt areas on the Greenland Ice Sheet.

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SN - 2041-1723

VL - 16

JO - Nature Communications

JF - Nature Communications

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Single-cell imaging reveals efficient nutrient uptake and growth of microalgae darkening the Greenland Ice Sheet

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