Ice Gliding Diatoms Establish Record-low Temperature Limits For Motility In A Eukaryotic Cell

In the harsh Arctic environments, ice-dwelling diatoms remarkably survive and thrive, but their behavioral adaptations are poorly understood.

Our study provides direct cellular observations of these microorganisms in ice. We find that many Arctic diatoms possess a unique ice-gliding ability.

This ability, absent in temperate diatoms, arises from specific interactions with icy substrates and resilience to extreme cold, allowing ice diatoms to navigate the ice matrix, accessing light and nutrients.

Through thermo-hydrodynamic modeling, we provide physical explanations for cold-adapted motility involving the strategies of enhanced energy efficiency and optimized mucilage properties.

Our findings, illuminating the behavioral adaptability of phytoplankton in extreme environments, deepen our understanding of ecological resilience and aid in predicting how polar ecosystems respond to climate change.

Ice gliding diatoms establish record-low temperature limits for motility in a eukaryotic cell, PNAS via PubMed (open access)

Astrobiology,