Galanthus number of species are on the IUCN Red List of threatened species, with the conservation status being "G. trojanus" as critically endangered, four species vulnerable, "G. nivalis" is near threatened and several species show decreasing populations. "G. panjutinii" is considered endangered. One of its five known sites, at Sochi, was destroyed by preparations for the 2014 Winter Olympics. "Galanthus" species and cultivars are extremely popular as symbols of spring and are traded more than any other wild-source ornamental bulb genus. Millions of bulbs are exported annually from Turkey and Georgia. For instance export quotas for 2016 for "G. elwesii" are
Chlamydomonas nivalis the cellular response mechanism to stressful conditions given the harsh conditions of its habitat. It is also an important organism to study adaptation to extreme environments and may become one of the leading systems for research in cold adaptation. "C. nivalis" is likely to have strong antioxidant capabilities, a robust repair mechanism, and other components that may be of interest to researchers. Thermophilic microalgae have gained biotechnological interest as a source for thermostable enzymes and commercial interest as a source for astaxanthin. "C. nivalis" could also potentially be a source for pharmaceuticals, supplements, or beauty products if the algae could