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The newly discovered algae species Streptofilum arcticum possesses a potentially highly flexible cell wall: When water is scarce, the cell and cell wall shrinks; when water becomes available again, the cell wall expands without causing damage. This function explains the evolutionary transition from water to land and provides the algae with advantages in climate adaptation.
An international research team led by Freiberg University of Mining and Technology (TU Bergakademie Freiberg), the Universities of Rostock and Innsbruck, and the National Academy Institute in Kyiv has described the species and its cell functions for the first time in a recent publication in the international scientific journal Environmental Microbiology (https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.70033). To date, researchers have identified the new algae species in the Arctic tundra on Svalbard and in coastal dunes along the Baltic Sea, indicating a broader regional distribution than previously assumed.
The new species Streptofilum arcticum is closely related to its sister organism Streptofilum capillatum, a tiny green ground-covering alga. Only when aggregated as a biofilm, the algal mat becomes visible to the naked eye in dunes along the Baltic Sea or Arctic tundra. Streptofilum capillatum itself was first described by the same team just a few years ago from agricultural soil and represents a new lineage in the plant evolutionary tree. Remarkably, this alga is an evolutionary precursor to modern plants and can be considered a living fossil. Streptofilum belongs to the most primitive algal representatives within the streptophyte lineage, which is directly related to land plants. It originates from the era when freshwater algae colonized land. Evolutionary innovations were necessary to survive terrestrial challenges such as drought, extreme temperature fluctuations, and UV radiation. These adaptations ultimately gave rise to plants.
Cell Functions Protect Algae from Drought
“These algae potentially have an exceptionally flexible cell wall, which differs significantly in fine structure from those of other green algae. We demonstrated this using electron microscopy. During water scarcity, the cell wall shrinks; when water is available again, the wall expands, allowing the cell to rehydrate without damage. This function explains the evolutionary transition of these algae from water to land,” explains Junior Professor Karin Glaser from the Institute of Biosciences at TU Bergakademie Freiberg.
The cell functions also enable Streptofilum to adapt to extreme environmental conditions: The algae survive in dry, cold Arctic soils and can reactivate rapidly after droughts. They are also remarkably resilient to light and temperature, thriving under both low light and intense UV radiation, with a temperature tolerance range of 5 to 40°C. This allows the algae to tolerate climate fluctuations and likely withstand future challenges.
Potential Applications in Eco-Friendly Sunscreen
The research team has identified the algae in the Arctic tundra near Svalbard and in sand samples from the Baltic Sea coast near Heiligendamm. “The broad regional distribution surprised us; these algae are more widespread than previously thought,” says Glaser. The team now aims to investigate where else the species occurs and how its unique cell functions can adapt to rising global temperatures.
These findings not only enhance our understanding of land plant evolution but could also inspire new biotechnological applications. For example, algae-derived UV-resistant compounds could be developed for eco-friendly sunscreens that avoid harming corals and marine ecosystems, unlike current chemical ingredients. “These algae produce mycosporine-like amino acids, which protect them from UV radiation. Understanding their function is a key foundation for potential applications in cosmetic products,” highlights Junior Professor Karin Glaser.
Original publication: New Strains of the Deep Branching Streptophyte Streptofilum: Phylogenetic Position, Cell Biological and Ecophysiological Traits, and Description of Streptofilum arcticum sp. nov, https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.70033
New Strains of the Deep Branching Streptophyte Streptofilum: Phylogenetic Position, Cell Biological and Ecophysiological Traits, and Description of Streptofilum arcticum sp. nov https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.70033
The team has detected the new algae species on the Baltic Sea coast, among other places.
Julia Tetzke
Julia Tetzke
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Biologie, Meer / Klima, Umwelt / Ökologie
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The team has detected the new algae species on the Baltic Sea coast, among other places.
Julia Tetzke
Julia Tetzke
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