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Photosynthesis, dark respiration and light independent carbon fixation of endemic Antarctic macroalgae

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Summary

The light saturated photosynthesis, dark respiration and light independent carbon fixation of macroalgal species endemic to the Antarctic were measured. Five brown algae. Ascoseira mirabilis, Desmarestia anceps, D. antarctica, Phaeurus antarcticus, Himantothallus grandifolius and the red alga Palmaria decipiens were included. Rates of these three parameters at 0°C were very similar to those measured in other studies on temperate algae at higher temperature. This indicates a high degree of physiological adaptation to the Antarctic environment within these species. A comparison was made of polarographic and chemical means of measuring oxygen flux during photosynthesis and dark respiration at low temperature. There was a good correlation between measurements of oxygen evolution and carbon fixation, although apparent photosynthetic quotient values were in most cases high.

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Abbreviations

HEPES:

N-(Hydroxyethyl) piperazine-N′-(2 ethane-sulphonic acid)

RuBP:

D-ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Alfred-Wegener Institut für Polar-und Meeresforschung, Columbusstrasse, W-2850, Bremerhaven, Germany

    D. N. Thomas & C. Wiencke

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  1. D. N. Thomas
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  2. C. Wiencke
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Contribution No. 415 from the Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polaru. Meeresforschung

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Thomas, D.N., Wiencke, C. Photosynthesis, dark respiration and light independent carbon fixation of endemic Antarctic macroalgae. Polar Biol 11, 329–337 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00239025

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00239025

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