The structure and formation of giant Marimo (Aegagropila linnaei) in Lake Akan, Japan

Abstract Aegagropila linnaei is a freshwater green alga, which at one time was distributed widely in the northern hemisphere. The aggregate often forms beautiful spherical shapes known as “lake balls” or “Marimo”. The population of Marimo has been rapidly decreasing worldwide, and today the large Ma...

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Autores principales:	Keisuke Nakayama, Katsuaki Komai, Keisuke Ogata, Toshiro Yamada, Yukinobu Sato, Fumiya Sano, Shintarou Horii, Yuichiro Somiya, Etsuko Kumamoto, Yoichi Oyama
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Nature Portfolio 2021
Materias:	Medicine R Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/4d7e9de27d39462d836cfd6c3e11fc12
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:4d7e9de27d39462d836cfd6c3e11fc122021-11-14T12:23:19ZThe structure and formation of giant Marimo (Aegagropila linnaei) in Lake Akan, Japan10.1038/s41598-021-01028-52045-2322https://doaj.org/article/4d7e9de27d39462d836cfd6c3e11fc122021-11-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-01028-5https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322Abstract Aegagropila linnaei is a freshwater green alga, which at one time was distributed widely in the northern hemisphere. The aggregate often forms beautiful spherical shapes known as “lake balls” or “Marimo”. The population of Marimo has been rapidly decreasing worldwide, and today the large Marimo, with a diameter of more than 12 cm, exit only in Lake Akan in Japan. However, how Marimo grow and maintain their unique spherical shape in natural habitats remains unsolved. Here we show that Marimo are “polished” into spheres by the rotation induced by wind waves. Such a process enhances the water exchange between the interior and exterior of the Marimo, thereby recycling nutrients for growth. Our results provide an intriguing model of a physical environment interacting with biological processes in a self-sustaining ecosystem. We also demonstrate that Marimo have a spherical annual ring structure, and their growth rate is associated with ice cover. The balance between the ecology of Marimo and the water environment in Lake Akan is highly vulnerable and at risk of irreversible degradation. We must endeavor to rescue Marimo from the fate of a "canary in the coal mine" of global climate change.Keisuke NakayamaKatsuaki KomaiKeisuke OgataToshiro YamadaYukinobu SatoFumiya SanoShintarou HoriiYuichiro SomiyaEtsuko KumamotoYoichi OyamaNature PortfolioarticleMedicineRScienceQENScientific Reports, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-12 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R Science Q
spellingShingle	Medicine R Science Q Keisuke Nakayama Katsuaki Komai Keisuke Ogata Toshiro Yamada Yukinobu Sato Fumiya Sano Shintarou Horii Yuichiro Somiya Etsuko Kumamoto Yoichi Oyama The structure and formation of giant Marimo (Aegagropila linnaei) in Lake Akan, Japan
description	Abstract Aegagropila linnaei is a freshwater green alga, which at one time was distributed widely in the northern hemisphere. The aggregate often forms beautiful spherical shapes known as “lake balls” or “Marimo”. The population of Marimo has been rapidly decreasing worldwide, and today the large Marimo, with a diameter of more than 12 cm, exit only in Lake Akan in Japan. However, how Marimo grow and maintain their unique spherical shape in natural habitats remains unsolved. Here we show that Marimo are “polished” into spheres by the rotation induced by wind waves. Such a process enhances the water exchange between the interior and exterior of the Marimo, thereby recycling nutrients for growth. Our results provide an intriguing model of a physical environment interacting with biological processes in a self-sustaining ecosystem. We also demonstrate that Marimo have a spherical annual ring structure, and their growth rate is associated with ice cover. The balance between the ecology of Marimo and the water environment in Lake Akan is highly vulnerable and at risk of irreversible degradation. We must endeavor to rescue Marimo from the fate of a "canary in the coal mine" of global climate change.
format	article
author	Keisuke Nakayama Katsuaki Komai Keisuke Ogata Toshiro Yamada Yukinobu Sato Fumiya Sano Shintarou Horii Yuichiro Somiya Etsuko Kumamoto Yoichi Oyama
author_facet	Keisuke Nakayama Katsuaki Komai Keisuke Ogata Toshiro Yamada Yukinobu Sato Fumiya Sano Shintarou Horii Yuichiro Somiya Etsuko Kumamoto Yoichi Oyama
author_sort	Keisuke Nakayama
title	The structure and formation of giant Marimo (Aegagropila linnaei) in Lake Akan, Japan
title_short	The structure and formation of giant Marimo (Aegagropila linnaei) in Lake Akan, Japan
title_full	The structure and formation of giant Marimo (Aegagropila linnaei) in Lake Akan, Japan
title_fullStr	The structure and formation of giant Marimo (Aegagropila linnaei) in Lake Akan, Japan
title_full_unstemmed	The structure and formation of giant Marimo (Aegagropila linnaei) in Lake Akan, Japan
title_sort	structure and formation of giant marimo (aegagropila linnaei) in lake akan, japan
publisher	Nature Portfolio
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/4d7e9de27d39462d836cfd6c3e11fc12
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The structure and formation of giant Marimo (Aegagropila linnaei) in Lake Akan, Japan

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