Effects of temperature, irradiance, and daylength on the marine diatom leptocylindrus danicus cleve. I. Photosynthesis and cellular composition

doi:10.1016/0022-0981(81)90094-0

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology

Volume 55, Issue 1, 19 October 1981, Pages 79-91

https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-0981(81)90094-0 Get rights and content

Abstract

Rates of ¹⁴C uptake and cellular composition of C, N, and Chl a in the marine diatom Leptocylindrus danicus Cleve were measured in axenic batch culture under 49 combinations of temperature (5, 10, 15, 20 °C), daylength (15: 9, 12: 12, 9: 15 LD), and irradiance (at least four irradiances per daylength). ¹⁴C uptake exhibited a temperature-dependent daylength effect. Similar P-I curves characterized cells grown under 15: 9 and 12: 12 LD; P_max values were 17.2, 11.2, 4.3, and 1.8 pg C. pg Chl a⁻¹. h⁻¹ at 20, 15, 10, and 5°C, respectively. Under 9:15 LD at 20 and 15°C, the lightsaturated photosynthetic rate was ≈50% that in cells grown under longer daylengths. ¹⁴C uptake was independent of daylength at 10 and 5°C. The initial slope, a, of cells grown under long daylengths increased by five-fold between 5 and 20 °C. α values of cells grown under 9: 15 LD at 15 and 20 °C were depressed relative to longer daylengths. Chl a was inversely related to irradiance, and increased with temperature from 10 to 20 °C, whereas cell carbon and nitrogen showed a similar temperature dependence but was not influenced by irradiance or daylength. The C : N ratio and cell volume were independent of temperature, irradiance, and daylength. Both the C : Chl a and N : Chl a ratios increased with irradiance by greater amounts at lower temperatures.

References (45)

W.M. Dunstan
A comparison of the photosynthesis-light intensity relationship in phylogenetically different marine microalgae
J. exp. mar.-Biol. Ecol.
(1973)
T.T. Bannister
Production equations in terms of chlorophyll concentration, quantum yield, and upper limit to production
Limnol. Oceanogr.
(1974)
J. Bfardall et al.
The concept of light intensity adaptation in marine phytoplankton: some experiments with Phaeodactylum tricornutum
Mar. Biol.
(1976)
V. Cassie
Marine phytoplankton in New Zealand waters
Bot. Mar.
(1961)
J.E. ClOern
Empirical model of Skeletonema costatum photosynthetic rate, with applications in the San Francisco Bay estuary
Adv. Water Res.
(1979)
H. Cure et al.
Variations in photosynthetic assimilation ratios in natural, marine phytoplankton communities
Limnol. Oceanogr.
(1965)
E.G. Durbin
Studies on the autecology of the marine diatom Thalassioira nordenskioeldii Cleve. I. The influence of daylength, light intensity, and temperature on growth
J. Phycol.
(1974)
E.G. Durbin
Studies on the autecology of the marine diatom Thalassiosira nordenskioeldii Cleve. II. The influence of cell size on growth rate, and carbon, nitrogen, chlorophyll a and silica content
J. Phycol.
(1977)
E.G. Durbin et al.
Seasonal studies on the relative importance of different size fractions of phytoplankton in Narragansetl Bay (USA)
Mar. Biol.
(1975)
R.W. Eppiey
Temperature and phytoplankton growth in the sea
Fish. Bull. NOAA.
(1972)

P.G. Falkowski et al.

Effects of light intensity on photosynthesis and dark respiration in six species of marine phytoplankton

Mar. Biol.

(1978)

J.C. Goldman et al.

A kinetic approach to the effect of temperature on algal growth

Limnol. Oceanogr.

(1974)

B. Govindjee et al.

Light absorption, emission and photosynthesis

H.H. Gran

The plankton production in the north European waters in the spring of 1912

H.H. Gran et al.

Plankton diatoms of Puget Sound

Publ. Puget Sound Biol. Stn Univ. Wash.

(1931)

D.J. Griffiths et al.

A modified chamber for use with an oxygen electrode to allow measurement of incident illumination within the reaction suspension

Limnol. Oceanogr.

(1978)

J. Grømlved et al.

The phyloplankton of the waters west of Greenland

Medd. om Grønland

(1938)

R.R.L. Guillard

Organic sources of nitrogen for marine centric diatoms

G.L. Hitchcock

The time course of pholosynthetic adaptation, the growth rate response, and variations in the pigment, carbohydrate and protein content of Skeletonema costatum and Detonula confervacea to changes in light intensity

L.A. Hobson et al.

Effects of variations in daylength and temperature on net rates of photosynthesis, dark respiration, and excretion by Isochrysis galbana Parke

Pl. Physiol.

(1979)

O. Holm-Hansen et al.

Fluorometric determination of chlorophyll

J. Cons. perm. int. Explor. Mer.

(1965)

A. Jassby et al.

Mathematical formulation of the relationship between photosynthesis and light for phytoplankton

Limnol. Oceanogr.

(1976)

Cited by (75)

Interactive effects of warming and eutrophication on population dynamics and stalk production of epiphytic diatoms in transitional waters
2019, Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science
Citation Excerpt :
It is frequently suggested that warming will shift the distribution of phytoplankton size towards smaller individuals (Olson et al., 1986; Peter and Sommer, 2012). However, this has led to controversy because some studies have also indicated the contrary (Durbin, 1977; Thompson et al., 1992) or shown no clear trends (Yoder, 1979; Verity, 1981). Indeed, it has also been suggested that other factors, like nutrients, may even play a more relevant role in cell size change than the direct effect of temperature (Peter and Sommer 2012, 2015; Deng et al., 2014).
The interactive effects of temperature and nitrogen:phosphorus stoichiometry were assessed by an experiment that involves cultures of the stalked epiphytic diatom Licmophora colosalis at different N:P ratios (5, 10, 16, 21 and 42) and temperatures (26, 31 and 36 °C) to simulate predictions of global warming effects on a Mediterranean coastal lagoon. At 26 °C, which seemed optimal for L. colosalis, it grew well at the N:P ratios within the 16–21 range, but a different stoichiometry reduced cell growth. The 5 °C increase had deleterious effects on diatom fitness as growth reduced, mortality increased and carbohydrates accumulation amplified under N or P deficiency. In contrast, this temperature stress was better overcome at N:P = 16. The 36 °C temperature proved lethal. Stalk production was specifically stimulated when growth was P-limited at both 26 °C and 31 °C, which suggests that a high proportion of stalks, which would form macroscopic colonies, may serve as an indicator of warming and high N:P ratios in transitional waters.
Community composition and photophysiology of phytoplankton assemblages in coastal Oyashio waters of the western North Pacific during early spring
2018, Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science
Citation Excerpt :
In the incubation experiments at Stations Bio-7 and Bio-13, however, increases in αB values were observed with temperature (Fig. 8a). Although similar results were also observed in the previous studies (e.g. Verity, 1981; Palmisano et al., 1987), the mechanisms are still unclear. As estimated from the small variations in Fv/FmPAM (Fig. 8h), temperature negligibly affected the maximum quantum yield of PSII for the phytoplankton assemblages at all stations in this study, but the light-harvesting property of PSII could be affected by temperature.
Globally, the western subarctic Pacific is known as the region with the largest seasonal drawdown in the partial pressure of CO₂ due to biological activity, i.e., high spring primary production and particulate organic carbon flux. These distinctive features are mainly caused by intense spring diatom blooms in coastal Oyashio (COY) and Oyashio (OY) waters. Although phytoplankton assemblages in OY waters are rather well studied, little is known about COY waters. In this study, photophysiological properties and phytoplankton community composition in COY waters were investigated during the pre-bloom and bloom periods from March to April 2015. Next-generation sequencing targeting the 18S rRNA gene revealed that the diatom Thalassiosira generally dominated the phytoplankton community and showed distinct differences in the diatom communities in shelf and offshore waters of the COY. Additionally, the relative contribution of Thalassiosira to the total diatom assemblages showed a positive correlation with maximum photosynthetic rates (P^B_max) occurring throughout this study. Chlorophyll a concentration and primary productivity were also positively correlated with sea surface temperature, suggesting that temperature was a critical factor for bloom development. Short-term on-deck incubation experiments were carried out to examine the role of temperature in determining planktonic photosynthetic processes. Our results showed an increase in P^B_max with rising temperature in assemblages from the shelf COY waters. Similarly, transcription levels of the diatom-specific rbcL gene, which encodes the large subunit of RuBisCO, also increased with rising temperature in the shelf assemblages. In contrast, temperature had little effect on the maximum photochemical quantum efficiency (F_v/F_m) of photosystem II. The results suggested that the transcription activity of the diatom-specific rbcL gene was upregulated by the increase in temperature, and that led to the higher P^B_max values and the spring diatom bloom in the shelf COY region.
Coincident patterns of waste water suspended solids reduction, water transparency increase and chlorophyll decline in Narragansett Bay
2016, Marine Pollution Bulletin
Citation Excerpt :
Anning et al. (2000) observed a 50% reduction in Skeletonema cellular chlorophyll, from 1 pg chl per cell to 0.5 pg chl per cell, in response to an increase in irradiance from 50 to 1200 μmol photons m− 2 s− 1. The diatom Leptocylindrus danicus, abundant in NBay, displayed a ca. 4-fold decline in chlorophyll (normalized to cell volume) in response to an irradiance increase from 6 to 41 W m− 2 (Verity, 1981). Cellular chlorophyll quotas vary at hourly to daily time scales (Post et al., 1985; Falkowski and Raven, 1997), with both ‘shift-up’ responses (decrease in cell chlorophyll with increasing irradiance) and ‘shift-down’ responses (increase in cell chlorophyll with decreasing irradiance).
Dramatic changes occurred in Narragansett Bay during the 1980s: water clarity increased, while phytoplankton abundance and chlorophyll concentration decreased. We examine how changes in total suspended solids (TSS) loading from wastewater treatment plants may have influenced this decline in phytoplankton chlorophyll. TSS loading, light and phytoplankton observations were compiled and a light- and temperature-dependent Skeletonema-based phytoplankton growth model was applied to evaluate chlorophyll supported by TSS nitrogen during 1983–1995. TSS loading declined 75% from ~ 0.60 × 10⁶ kg month^− 1 to ~ 0.15 × 10⁶ kg month^− 1 during 1983–1995. Model results indicate that nitrogen reduction related to TSS reduction was minor and explained a small fraction (~ 15%) of the long-term chlorophyll decline. The decline in NBay TSS loading appears to have increased water clarity and in situ irradiance and contributed to the long-term chlorophyll decline by inducing a physiological response of a ~ 20% reduction in chlorophyll per cell.
Development of phytoplankton communities: Implications of nutrient injections on phytoplankton composition, pH and ecosystem production
2015, Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
Citation Excerpt :
As a result, the C:Chl a ratio increased from mid-experiment values of around 30 to a final C:Chl a value of around 100 in the nutrient amended treatments. Increasing C:Chl a is a proxy of nitrogen limitation, probably reflecting that carbon fixation exceeds the capacity for synthesizing other biomass components, thus leading to an increase in C:Chl a ratios (Verity, 1981; Yoder, 1979). The bacterial production remained high when Chl a and NEP declined at the end, indicating net heterotrophy by bacteria mineralizing the biomass that had built up during the initial phytoplankton bloom.
The development of a marine phytoplankton community was studied in a series of mesocosm tanks exposed to different levels of nutrient inputs. Key ecosystem variables such as phytoplankton species development, ecosystem net production (NEP), pH and bacteria production were measured. The overall aim was to mimic the consequences of extreme weather events by applying nutrients in either repeated (pulse treatment) versus a single inputs (full treatment). Regardless of treatment type, pH increased steadily, until nutrients became exhausted. During the experiment, potentially nuisance dinoflagellates developed and became dominant whereas diatoms became rare as compared to the parallel controls. At pH > 9, a shift from the presence of the potential nuisance Alexandrium pseudogonyaulax towards high pH tolerant Prorocentrum species was observed. Diatoms disappeared when A. pseudogonyaulax became dominant. The NEP was significantly higher (ca. 2500 μg C L^− 1 d^− 1) in the nutrient amended tanks than in the control tanks (ca. 500 μg C L^− 1 d^− 1). NEP dropped substantially as nutrients became depleted whereas bacterial communities maintained a high production likely driven by easy access to carbohydrates, turning the ecosystem net heterotrophic. This study suggests that a single nutrient dose drives pH higher than multiple smaller nutrient doses injected albeit the total amount of nutrient injected to the treatments was similar. Such changes affect pH, species composition and rates of pelagic production ultimately uncoupling high bacterial production from primary production, leading to severe oxygen consumption following ephemeral blooms.
Influence of anomalous subarctic water intrusion on phytoplankton production off Baja California
2015, Continental Shelf Research
Citation Excerpt :
Phytoplankton photosynthetic rate normalized to chlorophyll biomass (PB; mgC mgChla−1 h−1) was obtained dividing P by the in situ phytoplankton chlorophyll (B; mgChla m−3). Such a normalization of P to chlorophyll integrates together temperature and nutrient dependence, since temperature-dependent changes in the Calvin cycle may be paralleled by changes in chlorophyll (Lapointe et al., 1984; Verity, 1981; Yoder, 1979). As a result, P fluctuates mainly as a function of the average light in the water column (Cullen and Lewis, 1988; Falkowski and Wirick, 1981; Lewis et al., 1984).
The southern region of the California Current (CC) off Baja California represents a transitional environment, with the influence of low temperature and less saline CC water during spring and summer, and warm and salty tropical and subtropical conditions through the end of summer and autumn. From 2002 to 2006, an anomalous subarctic water (SAW) intrusion generated changes in the epipelagic ecosystem dynamics, affecting phytoplankton biomass and primary production. The goal of the present work is to show the effects of the SAW intrusion off Baja California in the phytoplankton production during the two contrasting years 2002 and 2005. Our results show that the minimum water salinity was associated with density levels of 24.6–25.5 kg m⁻³ in 2002 and 24.3–25.2 kg m⁻³ in 2005, indicating that the anomalous SAW intrusion was more pronounced in 2005. In 2005, the mean chlorophyll concentration was low (<0.4 mg m⁻³) and associated with negative salinity anomalies (<−0.02). The mean satellite-derived chlorophyll (CHL) values were 0.25 and 0.26 mg m⁻³ in 2002 and 2005, although in the coastal zone they were >1.0 mg m⁻³ in some months. CHL values were significantly different between the north and south zone and among months (p<0.01). The mean values of the photosynthetic parameters (maximum light utilization coefficient (α^B) and maximum photosynthesis rate (P^B_m)) were one order of magnitude higher in 2005 compared to 2002 (p<0.01). The primary production estimated by the Herman and Platt model and the Carr model was very different in 2002 (mean values of 907 and 143 mgC m⁻² d⁻¹ respectively), but similar in 2005 (750 and 1006 mgC m⁻² d⁻¹ respectively). The differences between models may be due to the diverse chlorophyll data used in the singular models (in situ vs. satellite-derived), and to the weight of the phytoplankton photosynthetic parameters in each algorithm. We conclude that for the present data set the Herman and Platt model is more suitable. To assess the relative importance of physical variables, as well as bio-optical and physiological parameters in primary production, we conducted a principal component analysis (PCA). There was an apparent separation between the two years, while each year experienced a special structuring due to different physical variables (mainly salinity, but also temperature and K_PAR in 2002, and temperature and water stability in 2005). No clear structuring is discernible in 2005, suggesting that the anomalous SAW intrusion homogenized the pelagic ecosystem. The decrease in primary production suggests a change in phytoplankton biomass as a result of a phytoplankton physiological acclimatization.
Organic matter release by coral reef associated benthic algae in the Northern Red Sea
2010, Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
Recent research indicates that coral reef associated benthic algae may control important metabolic processes in reef ecosystems via organic matter release. Yet little information is available about quantity and chemical composition of these algae-derived exudates. Therefore first comprehensive studies on algal organic matter release were conducted at a fringing reef ecosystem in the Northern Red Sea. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC), particulate organic carbon (POC) and nitrogen (PN) release by dominant reef associated benthic algae (Caulerpa serrulata, Peyssonnelia capensis, turf algae assemblages) were quantified during 4 seasonally resolved expeditions. Additionally, 4 seasonal blooming (Ulva lactuca, Enteromorpha flexuosa, Liagora turneri, Hydroclathrus clathratus) and 2 patchy growing algae species (Lobophora variegata, Saragassum dentifolium) were included in these investigations. To complement the dataset organic matter release by Caulerpa was studied under different light conditions, simulating water depths of 1, 5, 10 and 20 m. Environmental parameters (temperature, light availability, inorganic nutrient concentrations) were monitored simultaneously to assess potential effects on algal organic matter release. All 9 investigated genera of benthic algae exuded DOC and POC in amounts of 12.2 ± 2.1 and 4.2 ± 0.3 mg organic C m⁻² algae surface area h^− 1, respectively. Resident algae, primarily turf algae assemblages, displayed highest and seasonal blooming algae lowest organic matter release rates. Results therefore indicate that organic matter release rates are rather influenced by functional properties (growth form, life strategy) of algae than by taxonomic affiliation. Quantities of organic matter release showed seasonal and depth-mediated variations and were positively correlated with temperature and light availability within photosynthetically active radiation intensities of 0 to 300 µmol quanta m^− 2 s^− 1, suggesting photoinhibition as limiting factor for productivity and subsequent organic matter release. Stable isotope signatures of algae-derived organic carbon were within a common range and likewise subjected to seasonal variations (δ¹³C summer: − 11.2‰ ± 0.2‰; δ¹³ winter: − 16.7‰ ± 0.4‰). These data provide first comprehensive information about a) the potential contribution of different benthic reef algae to cycles of matter and b) environmental key factors influencing organic matter release by benthic algae in the investigated fringing reef ecosystem.

View all citing articles on Scopus

View full text

Effects of temperature, irradiance, and daylength on the marine diatom leptocylindrus danicus cleve. I. Photosynthesis and cellular composition

Abstract

J. exp. mar.-Biol. Ecol.

Production equations in terms of chlorophyll concentration, quantum yield, and upper limit to production

Limnol. Oceanogr.

The concept of light intensity adaptation in marine phytoplankton: some experiments with Phaeodactylum tricornutum

Mar. Biol.

Marine phytoplankton in New Zealand waters

Bot. Mar.

Empirical model of Skeletonema costatum photosynthetic rate, with applications in the San Francisco Bay estuary

Adv. Water Res.

Variations in photosynthetic assimilation ratios in natural, marine phytoplankton communities

Limnol. Oceanogr.

Studies on the autecology of the marine diatom Thalassioira nordenskioeldii Cleve. I. The influence of daylength, light intensity, and temperature on growth

J. Phycol.

Studies on the autecology of the marine diatom Thalassiosira nordenskioeldii Cleve. II. The influence of cell size on growth rate, and carbon, nitrogen, chlorophyll a and silica content

J. Phycol.

Seasonal studies on the relative importance of different size fractions of phytoplankton in Narragansetl Bay (USA)

Mar. Biol.

Temperature and phytoplankton growth in the sea

Fish. Bull. NOAA.

Effects of light intensity on photosynthesis and dark respiration in six species of marine phytoplankton

Mar. Biol.

A kinetic approach to the effect of temperature on algal growth

Limnol. Oceanogr.

Light absorption, emission and photosynthesis

The plankton production in the north European waters in the spring of 1912

Plankton diatoms of Puget Sound

Publ. Puget Sound Biol. Stn Univ. Wash.

A modified chamber for use with an oxygen electrode to allow measurement of incident illumination within the reaction suspension

Limnol. Oceanogr.

The phyloplankton of the waters west of Greenland

Medd. om Grønland

Organic sources of nitrogen for marine centric diatoms

The time course of pholosynthetic adaptation, the growth rate response, and variations in the pigment, carbohydrate and protein content of Skeletonema costatum and Detonula confervacea to changes in light intensity

Effects of variations in daylength and temperature on net rates of photosynthesis, dark respiration, and excretion by Isochrysis galbana Parke

Pl. Physiol.

Fluorometric determination of chlorophyll

J. Cons. perm. int. Explor. Mer.

Mathematical formulation of the relationship between photosynthesis and light for phytoplankton

Limnol. Oceanogr.