Photoacclimation strategies of the temperate coralline alga Corallina officinalis: a perspective on photosynthesis, calcification, photosynthetic pigment contents and growth

Abstract

The coralline alga, Corallina officinalis, is a widely distributed intertidal species in temperate coastal regions. It is usually exposed to high fluctuations of light intensity, light quality, temperature, and desiccation, all of which affect the temporal and spatial distribution as well as the morphology and the metabolism of this alga. In laboratory experiments we examined the effects of different light intensities (50, 100, and 200 μmol photons m -2 s -1) on photosynthesis, calcification, photosynthetic pigment contents (chlorophyll a and carotenoids), and growth rate of C. officinalis to clarify its photoacclimation strategies. Net photosynthesis, calcification and dissolution rates based on weight were not sensitive to irradiance. Although, photosynthesis and calcification did not clearly respond to light intensity, photosynthetic pigment contents were significantly lower at higher light intensities. In addition, higher irradiances induced significant enhancement of gross photosynthesis based on chlorophyll a. As a result, the specific growth rate was significantly stimulated by high light intensity. Our results suggest that photoacclimation of C. officinalis to different light conditions may be regulated to optimize growth.

Photoacclimation and photoregulation strategies of Corallina (Corallinales, Rhodophyta) across the NE Atlantic

“…However, alteration of pigment concentrations under different light environments has also been previously shown for Corallina species (e.g. Algarra et al, 1991;Häder et al, 1997;Kim et al, 2013). Thus, whilst it is not possible to differentiate the relative roles of high light-stress and changes in pigment concentrations on the seasonal patterns in photophysiology observed during the present study, it is likely that both components play a governing role.…”

The carbon turnover response to thermal stress of a dominant coralline alga on the fast warming Levant coast

“…Nighttime calcification rate ( G N ) was 4.1 times smaller than daytime calcification, a ratio close to 3.6 found in E. elongata at NW Mediterranean by El Haïkali et al (). In the absence of light, several coralline studies have found dissolution rather than calcification (Chisholm ; Kim et al ). In this study, however, net dissolution was found at 33°C and 35°C only, during both daytime and nighttime.…”

“…P Q peaked at 178C to a level of 1.25 and gradually decreased at higher temperatures. Other studies measured coralline P Q levels under variable irradiance (Kim et al 2013) and PCO 2 (Martin et al 2006) levels, and found no significant effects. The observed decline of P Q with temperature is possibly a result of photorespiration (Burris 1981).…”

“…338C fronds underwent bleaching and photosynthetic rates declined to near 0 at 358C. The photosynthetic quotient (P Q ) ranged between 1.02 and 1.25, a typical range in algae (Williams and Robertson 1991;Smith et al 2012), also found in corallines (Chisholm 2000;Martin et al 2006;Kim et al 2013). P Q peaked at 178C to a level of 1.25 and gradually decreased at higher temperatures.…”

Variation in Photosynthetic Performance Relative to Thallus Microhabitat Heterogeneity in Lithothamnion australe (Rhodophyta, Corallinales) Rhodoliths

“…Further, large gradients of O 2 and CO 2 can exist within the rhodolith microhabitats, indicating photorespiration mechanisms could be very complicated along these chemical environments (Kim et al. 2013). These results indicate that larger rhodoliths exhibit lower mass‐specific rates of gross productivity but higher mass‐specific respiration than smaller rhodoliths, and thus lower mass‐specific rates of net productivity.…”