The distribution and drivers of microbial pigments in the cryoconite of four Tibetan glaciers

• Published in: Environmental microbiology 2024-01, Vol.26 (1), p.e16550-n/a
• Main Authors: Lyu, Xianfu, Cui, Wanzhe, Ji, Mukan, Wang, Wenqiang, Zhang, Zhihao, Liu, Yongqin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Albedo; Algae; Autotrophic bacteria; Carotenoids; Chlorophyll; Chlorophyll A; Climate change; Cyanobacteria; Distribution; Glaciers; Global warming; Ice Cover - microbiology; Mathematical models; Microorganisms; Pigments; Relative abundance; Tibet
• ISSN: 1462-2912; 1462-2920
• DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16550

Microbial pigments play a significant role in glacier albedo reduction, thereby contributing to accelerated glacier retreat. The Tibetan Plateau has experienced rapid glacier retreat in recent decades due to global warming, yet there is limited understanding of microbial pigment distribution in the region. Here, we investigated the pigment concentration and composition in cryoconite from four glaciers. Our results showed that chlorophylls were the dominant pigments in Palong No. 4 (PL) and Jiemayangzong (JMYZ) glaciers located in the south of the Tibetan Plateau, while carotenoids were dominant in Qiangyong (QY) and Tanggula (TGL) glaciers located in the central region. Additionally, the chlorophyll b to chlorophyll a ratio, which is an indicator of the algae‐to‐cyanobacteria ratio, was higher in PL and JMYZ compared to QY and TGL. By using Random Forest Regression and Structural Equation Modelling, we determined that the concentrations of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids were associated with autotrophic bacteria relative abundance, climatic factors, and a combination of bacterial and climatic factors, respectively. This study is the first to describe the distribution of microbial pigments in cryoconite from Tibetan glaciers, providing additional support on the influence of algal pigment on glacier retreat. The investigation of microbial pigments in the cryoconite of four Tibetan glaciers showed that chlorophylls and carotenoids are the dominant pigments in glaciers to the south and centre regions of the Tibetan Plateau, respectively. Algae‐specific pigment chlorophyll b is more abundant in glaciers at lower altitudes with a higher surface temperature and retreat rate compared to those at higher latitudes, confirming its association with enhanced glacier retreat.