Algae (Melosira arctica) growing on ice. Ice algae growing on the underside of sea ice in the spring melt at Admiralty Inlet, Nunavut, Canada. The alg

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Algae (Melosira arctica) growing on ice. Ice algae growing on the underside of sea ice in the spring melt at Admiralty Inlet, Nunavut, Canada. The algae dwell within bubbles in the sea ice. They produce ice-binding proteins that adhere the algae to the ice and trap liquid water within the bubble. When the sea ice melts, the algae sink to the sea bed and are fed on by bottom dwelling animals and bacteria.

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Size: 5152px × 3425px
Photo credit: © LOUISE MURRAY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: admiralty, algae, algal, america, arctic, arctica, botanical, botany, canada, canadian, ecosystem, flora, growth, ice, inlet, melosira, nature, north, nunavut, plant, underside, underwater, water