Summary• We estimated the level of quantitative polymorphism for zinc (Zn) tolerance in neighboring metallicolous and nonmetallicolous populations of Arabidopsis halleri and tested the hypothesis that divergent selection has shaped this polymorphism.• A short-term hydroponic test was used to capture the quantitative polymorphism present between edaphic types, among and within populations. We measured six morphological and physiological traits on shoots and roots to estimate the response of A. halleri to Zn. In order to assess the adaptive value of Zn tolerance polymorphism, we compared differentiation of quantitative traits with that of molecular markers.• Zinc tolerance of metallicolous populations was, on average, higher than that of nonmetallicolous populations according to the morphological and physiological traits measured. Phenotypic variability within edaphic types was very high and mainly explained by polymorphism among individuals within populations. Genetic differentiation for photosystem II yield of leaves (a measure of photosynthetic efficiency) was greater than the differentiation for microsatellite and thus, probably shaped by divergent selection.• Overall, these results suggest that, in the sampled populations, Zn tolerance has been increased in metallicolous populations through selection on standing genetic variation within local nonmetallicolous ancestral populations.
Photosynthetic activity in thalli of Laminaria saccharina (Lamouroux) was followed in situ in the upper subtidal zone of a Northern Brittany rocky shore (Roscoff, France), using a submersible pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorometer. Two fluorescence parameters, the effective quantum yield of photosystem II (Φ PSII ) and the relative electron transport rate (rETR), were estimated at various stages of a tidal cycle from 10:00 to 18:30 h, and different light conditions due to variations of water depth and position of the sun. The Φ PSII decreased strongly during the ebb tide, essentially due to a drop in the maximal fluorescence level for light-adapted samples (F m '). This was the result of increasing non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). Algae totally recovered during the rising tide, indicating that no significant photosynthetic damage occurred at ebb tide. L. saccharina responded to high light stress with photoprotective processes such as the xanthophyll cycle. The de-epoxidation ratio (DR) (i.e. conversion of violaxanthin into antheraxanthin and zeaxanthin) increased during the ebb tide and decreased during the rising tide. However, in spite of the development of a photoprotective mechanism, the overall photosynthetic activity (rETR) declined strongly at the highest irradiance level. This result indicates that primary production levels have been overestimated in the past.
Laminaria saccharina (Lamouroux) form the largest, most abundant and conspicuous seaweed populations along the French coast of the eastern English Channel. As they are located in the intertidal zone, they are exposed to considerable irradiance variations, mainly related to tidal cycles. The response of these macro-algae to light variations over a simulated daily tidal cycle was investigated in the laboratory during spring, autumn and winter using chlorophyll fluorescence and pigment analysis. The maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry ( F v / F m ) and the operating PSII efficiency ( Φ Φ Φ Φ PSII ) showed clear daily cycles according to the irradiance variation throughout the 12 h simulated tidal cycle, whereas the pattern of the relative photosynthetic electron transport rate (rETR) was not so obvious. The algae reacted to the light increase by developing photoprotective mechanisms able to dissipate the excess energy reaching PSII by the de-epoxidation of violaxanthin into zeaxanthin. Because of their better acclimation to strong irradiance, spring populations were less affected by this light treatment than were winter populations. In particular, L. saccharina showed more pigments of the xanthophyll cycle in spring to cope with strong irradiance exposure. Alternatively, they developed their antenna complexes in winter to harvest a maximum of light.
The photochemical behavior of intact stream periphyton communities in France was evaluated in response to the time course of natural light. Intact biofilms grown on glass substrata were collected at three development stages in July and November, and structural parameters of the biofilms were investigated (diatom density and taxonomy). At each season, physiological parameters based on pigment analysis (HPLC) and pulse-amplitude-modulated (PAM) chl fluorescence technique were estimated periodically during a day from dawn to zenith. Regardless of the community studied, the optimal quantum yield of PSII (Fv /Fm ), the effective PSII efficiency (ΦPSII ), the nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ), and the relative electron transport rate (rETR) exhibited clear dynamic patterns over the morning. Moreover, microalgae responded to the light increase by developing the photoprotective xanthophyll cycle. The analysis of P-I parameters and pigment profiles suggests that July communities were adapted to higher light environments in comparison with November ones, which could be partly explained by a shift in the taxonomic composition. Finally, differences between development stages were significant only in July. In particular, photoinhibition was less pronounced in mature assemblages, indicating that self-shading (in relation to algal biomass) could have influenced photosynthesis in older communities.
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