Documenting pink snow across mountain ranges through The Living Snow Project

Methods

Summary

Data Collection Protocols: -Pink snow observations will be collected via the Living Snow Project app. The app stores GPS coordinates when users identify they are making an observation or collecting a sample. Users can also write notes about observations.   If the phone is out of service, it will store information and send once the phone reconnects. Funding will be used to improve the data capacity of the app to include photo capture and measuring of pink patch size using an API that measures using a  trace function to estimates of surface area.  We also want to use ArcGIS tools to integrate near real time sample maps into the App.

- Samples for DNA Analysis Spring/Summer: Volunteers collect visible snow algae biomass from snow using a collection kit. Each kit includes two sterile 50mL tubes filled with 25mL DNA preservative, nitrile gloves, and instructions. Samples are stable at ambient temperature for weeks and can be stored in a refrigerator before return to LSP. Samples are filtered onto .2um filters and washed with PBS buffer.  Extractions are done using Zymo soil microbe extraction kits. DNA is then quantified and prepared in 96 well plate for Illumina MiSeq sequencing with the V4 region of the 18S ribosomal gene, the standard taxonomic marker gene. We use standard scientific protocols for sampling microbial biomass from snow consistent with the Earth Microbiome Project protocols, and have optimized collection protocols for citizen scientists. Data generated from samples collected by citizen scientists in 2017-2019 are of similar quality to samples collected by WWU scientists.

Challenges

The most challenging aspect of new project development will be coming up with metrics/modules for measuring the size of pink snow patches.