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Temperature and emergence effects on the net photosynthesis of two Zostera noltii Hornem. morphotypes

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Abstract

Apparent photosynthetic rates (APS) of two Zostera noltii Hornem. morphotypes were measured in air and in water at different temperatures with a closed infra-red gas analysis system (IRGA).

Hyperbolic functions accurately described the photosynthesis-CO2 relationships when the leaves were exposed to air. The photosynthetic behaviour in water, on the contrary, could not be described by Michaelis type kinetics, due to the existence of a rapid transition from the initial slope to the saturation phase. Both morphotypes (narrow-leaved, NLM and large-leaved, LLM) showed higher APS rates in water than in air, although the highest APS rates, in air as well in water, were recorded for the NLM.

Temperature had a significant influence on the photosynthetic parameters: APSmax (maximum photosynthetic rate) decreased (in air and in water) with increased temperature in both morphytypes; compensation points (CP) in air increased at high temperature, especially in the LLM. NLM specimens showed enhanced affinity (lower Km) with increasing temperature in air. On the contrary, Km values in water were not significantly affected by temperature.

The results suggest that NLM specimens are better adapted than the LLM to occur exposed to air. The distributional pattern of the two morphotypes in the Palmones Estuary is discussed on the basis of their photosynthetic behaviour.

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  1. Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad de Cádiz, Puerto Real, 11510, Cádiz, Spain

    J. L. Pérez-Lloréns

  2. Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Malaga, 29071, Málaga, Spain

    F. Xavier Niell

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Pérez-Lloréns, J.L., Niell, F.X. Temperature and emergence effects on the net photosynthesis of two Zostera noltii Hornem. morphotypes. Hydrobiologia 254, 53–64 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00007765

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