A pond in Hawaii has taken on a remarkably vivid pink hue, causing concern among residents. The surreal appearance of the Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge has been likened to something out of a fairy tale, with the pink coloration being evident since at least October 30, a consequence of the heightened salt content during the prolonged drought.
Pond's Salinity May Have Turned It Pink
Bret Wolfe, the manager of the refuge, recounted receiving a report from a beachgoer about an unusual occurrence at Kealia Pond in Hawaii. Intrigued by the anomaly, Wolfe explained that water samples sent to the University of Hawaii indicated the presence of halobacteria as the cause of the pond's magenta hue.
Halobacteria, characterized as extremophiles, thrive in highly saline environments like the Great Salt Lake and the Dead Sea, making them adept at surviving in extreme conditions, including water with salinity twice that of seawater.
The Kealia Pond outlet area currently exhibits a salinity exceeding 70 parts per thousand, double the salinity of seawater. Wolfe anticipates that a DNA analysis will be necessary to definitively identify the organism responsible for the coloration.
Although Kealia Pond's name translates to "salt encrustation," the extreme drought on Maui has significantly elevated its salinity beyond normal levels. The ongoing drought on Maui likely contributes to the situation, as the usual inflow from Waikapu Stream, which elevates water levels in Kealia Pond, has been absent for an extended period.
The lack of freshwater input from the Waikapu Stream has heightened salt concentrations, providing an environment conducive to the brightly colored halobacteria. The majority of Maui County, encompassing other islands, is grappling with severe drought conditions, exacerbated by a deadly wildfire in Lahaina in August.
Despite periods of drought and elevated salinity in the past, the pond's current coloration is unprecedented, surprising even volunteers with 70 years of experience. While curious visitors have been drawn to the park after seeing images of the pink pond on social media, Wolfe reassures that the water's hue does not appear to harm the wildlife, including the endangered Hawaiian stilt and the Hawaiian coot.
Scientists continue to study the impact of the climate crisis on Hawaii, expressing confidence that drought conditions will worsen with increasing global temperatures, even in tropical regions like the islands.
More About Halobacterium
Halobacterium is found in hypersaline environments and is notable for imparting a red hue to high-salt surroundings due to its tolerance for extreme salinity.
Beyond its salinity resistance, Halobacterium is a unique member of the Archaea domain, a classification distinguished from other prokaryotes in 1977 based on specific characteristics, challenging traditional views of prokaryotic classification.
Halobacterium serves as a classic extremophile, thriving in extreme conditions such as high temperature, salinity, and acidity, surpassing the tolerance levels of most organisms.
As they can endure saturated brine solutions, it leads to their potential 'fossilization' in salt deposits, where they may remain alive for thousands or millions of years. The ability to withstand extreme conditions likely results in reduced competition within such habitats.
Contemporary understanding suggests that whereas archaeons like Halobacterium contribute to the red coloration, Dunaliella may play a role in making flamingos pink through their consumption of brine shrimp loaded with beta-carotene from Dunaliella.
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