Giant viruses on the Greenland ice sheet: scientists have made an unprecedented discovery, which would seem to be a good sign. Here’s what we know.
Scientists have been carefully monitoring it for years now Greenland ice sheet, which continues to decrease in size due to the melting of glaciers triggered by climate change. And for the first time gods were spotted on it giant viruses, which – contrary to what one might think at first – could represent a positive sign. Here’s what we know about this discovery.
Giant viruses in Greenland, what we know
A team of scientists led by Italian researcher Laura Perini, from the Department of Environmental Sciences at Aarhus University (Denmark), conducted a study on the Greenland ice sheet, discovering something truly sensational. For the first time, giant viruses were detected on the surface of glaciers and not deep down, as was usually the case. And this could represent a notable help against the melting of Arctic icealthough research is still ongoing.
But what do we know about these giant viruses? First discovered in 1981 in ocean waters, where they infected some particular species of green algae, they were then also found in soil and even in humans. Typically, viruses are much smaller than bacteria, measuring 20 to 200 nanometers. But the giant ones are almost a thousand times larger than normal viruses, and consequently often even larger than bacterial cells. Furthermore, inside them they have a genome which, instead of a few hundred thousand genes, contains many up to two and a half million.
Hearing about giant viruses can be fearful and cause concern, but scientists are on the contrary very optimistic. The discovery of these microorganisms could in fact prove to be a real help in combating the melting of glaciers, which is now increasingly inexorable. “We analyzed samples of dark ice, red snow and melt holes. Both in the dark ice and in the red snow we found traces of active giant viruses. And this is the first time they have been found on surface ice and snow containing a high abundance of pigmented microalgae” – said Dr. Perini.
Because giant viruses are a good sign
According to what the study published on Microbiomethe presence of these giant viruses in Greenland could combat the negative effects of microalgae on ice. In fact, we know that, during the spring season, algae bloom in this region which turns the ice black and makes it melt faster. Slowing down this process seems particularly difficult, but the help of giant viruses could be crucial. According to initial investigations, in fact, they would be able to control the proliferation of microvegetation on the snowsafeguarding the Arctic ecosystem and counteracting rising seas.
“We don’t know much about these viruses, but we believe they could be useful in reducing ice melt caused by algae blooms. How much specific and efficient we don’t know yet, but through further studies we hope to answer some of these questions” – declared Perini. In fact, researchers don’t yet know which hosts are infected by the giant viruses, and that’s important better understand their interactions and their role in the ecosystem. But the premises are undoubtedly very interesting.
