Ecophysiological responses to elevated CO2 and temperature in Cystoseira tamariscifolia (Phaeophyceae)

Climatic Change volume 142, pages67–81(2017)Cite this article

Abstract

Ocean acidification increases the amount of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) available in seawater which can benefit photosynthesis in those algae that are currently carbon limited, leading to shifts in the structure and function of seaweed communities. Recent studies have shown that ocean acidification-driven shifts in seaweed community dominance will depend on interactions with other factors such as light and nutrients. The study of interactive effects of ocean acidification and warming can help elucidate the likely effects of climate change on marine primary producers. In this study, we investigated the ecophysiological responses of Cystoseira tamariscifolia (Hudson) Papenfuss. This large brown macroalga plays an important structural role in coastal Mediterranean communities. Algae were collected from both oligotrophic and ultraoligotrophic waters in southern Spain. They were then incubated in tanks at ambient (ca. 400–500 ppm) and high CO2 (ca. 1200–1300 ppm), and at 20 °C (ambient temperature) and 24 °C (ambient temperature +4 °C). Increased CO2 levels benefited the algae from both origins. Biomass increased in elevated CO2 treatments and was similar in algae from both origins. The maximal electron transport rate (ETRmax), used to estimate photosynthetic capacity, increased in ambient temperature/high CO2 treatments. The highest polyphenol content and antioxidant activity were observed in ambient temperature/high CO2 conditions in algae from both origins; phenol content was higher in algae from ultraoligotrophic waters (1.5–3.0%) than that from oligotrophic waters (1.0–2.2%). Our study shows that ongoing ocean acidification can be expected to increase algal productivity (ETRmax), boost antioxidant activity (EC 50 ), and increase production of photoprotective phenols. Cystoseira tamariscifolia collected from oligotrophic and ultraoligotrophic waters were able to benefit from increases in DIC at ambient temperatures. Warming, not acidification, may be the key stressor for this habitat as CO2 levels continue to rise.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Junta de Andalucía (Project RNM-5750), by the research group RNM-295, and by the University of Málaga: Programa de Fortalecimiento de Las capacidades de I + D + I en Las universidades 2014-2015, Consejería de Economía, Innovación, Ciencia y Empleo, cofinanciado por el FEDER (Project FC-14CGL-09). Paula S. M. Celis-Plá gratefully acknowledges financial support from “Becas-Chile” (CONICYT) of the Ministry of Education, Republic of Chile, and technical support of David Lopez (University of Malaga).

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Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Research, Centre of Advanced Studies, University of Playa Ancha, Traslaviña 450, 2581782, Viña del Mar, Chile

    Paula S. M. Celis-Plá

  2. Department of Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Malaga, 29071, Malaga, Spain

    Paula S. M. Celis-Plá, Nathalie Korbee & Félix L. Figueroa

  3. Biodiversity and Conservation Unit, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28933, Mostoles, Spain

    Brezo Martínez

  4. Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK

    Jason M. Hall-Spencer

  5. Shimoda Marine Research Centre, Tsukuba University, Tsukuba, Japan

    Jason M. Hall-Spencer

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  1. Paula S. M. Celis-Plá
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  2. Brezo Martínez
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  4. Jason M. Hall-Spencer
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  5. Félix L. Figueroa
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Correspondence to Paula S. M. Celis-Plá.

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Celis-Plá, P.S.M., Martínez, B., Korbee, N. et al. Ecophysiological responses to elevated CO2 and temperature in Cystoseira tamariscifolia (Phaeophyceae). Climatic Change 142, 67–81 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-017-1943-y

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Keywords

  • Climate change
  • Cystoseira tamariscifolia
  • Ocean acidification
  • Temperature
  • Biomass
  • Photosynthesis
  • Phenolic compounds