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Chlorophyll fluorescence as a proxy for microphytobenthic biomass: alternatives to the current methodology

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Abstract

Pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorescence has been used as a proxy of microphytobenthic biomass after a dark adaptation period of 15 min to stabilise the minimum fluorescence yield (F 15 o ). This methodology was investigated for in situ migratory and ex situ engineered non-migratory biofilms, comparing dark adaptation to low (5% ambient) and far-red light treatments over different emersion periods. Far-red and low light reduced potential errors resulting from light history effects, by reversal of non-photochemical quenching after 5 min of treatment, compared to over 10 min required by conventional dark adaptation. An in situ decline of minimum fluorescence yield over 15 min was observed during the dark adaptation for migratory biofilms, but was not observed in the non-migratory biofilms indicating that the major cause of decline was downward vertical migration of cells into the sediment. This pattern occurred in far-red light after 10 min, but not for the low light treatment, indicating that low light maintained the biomass at the surface of the sediment. It is therefore concluded that low light treatment is a better option than conventional dark adaptation for the measurement of minimum fluorescence as a proxy of microphytobenthic biomass.

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Abbreviations

F ′ o , F 5 o , F 10 o , F 15 o :

Minimum fluorescence yield after 10 s and after 5, 10 and 15 min of treatment, respectively

F ′ m , F 5 m , F 10 m , F 15 m :

Maximum fluorescence yield after a saturating pulse, after 10 s and after 5, 10 and 15 min of treatment, respectively

F ′ v /F ′ m , F 5 v /F 5 m , F 10 v /F 10 m , F 15 v /F 15 m :

PSII photochemical efficiency after a saturating pulse, after 10 s or 5, 10 and 15 min of treatment, respectively

NPQ:

Non-photochemical fluorescence quenching

PPFD:

Photosynthetic photon flux density

PSII:

Photosystem II

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Acknowledgments

B. Jesus was funded by a PhD grant from FCT (Praxis XXI BD21634/99) and a Post Doctoral grant (POCI BPD/20993/2004). This work was also funded by the HIMOM project (Contract n° EVK3-2001-00043 I). The authors thank L. Ribeiro for the valuable help with diatom identification.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculdade de Ciências, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal

    B. Jesus, C. R. Mendes & V. Brotas

  2. Sediment Ecology Research Group, Gatty Marine labs, University of St. Andrews, East Sands, Fife, Scotland, KY16 8LB, UK

    B. Jesus & D. M. Paterson

  3. School of Earth, Ocean and Planetary Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3YE, UK

    R. G. Perkins

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  1. B. Jesus
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Correspondence to B. Jesus.

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Communicated by M. Kühl, Helsingør

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Jesus, B., Perkins, R.G., Mendes, C.R. et al. Chlorophyll fluorescence as a proxy for microphytobenthic biomass: alternatives to the current methodology. Mar Biol 150, 17–28 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-006-0324-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-006-0324-2

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