Abstract
Growth rates and intracellularβ-dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP) concentrations of five green algal species collected from different geographic regions in 1986 and 1989 were determined under four photon flux rates. InUlothrix implexa, U. subflaccida andAcrosiphonia arcta from Antarctica, growth was light-saturated at lower irradiances than in temperateUlva rigida from Southern Chile andBlidingia minima from Germany. The DMSP content ofUlothrix implexa, A. arcta andUlva rigida was directly correlated with the light factor: with increasing irradiance, algal DMSP level increased. In contrast, inUlothrix subflaccida andB. minima DMSP concentrations gradually decreased up to a photon flux rate of 30µmol m−2 s−1, then increased markedly under the highest photon flux rate tested. In non-growing, dark-incubatedA. arcta DMSP content was reduced by 35%, while the DMSP pool of all other species remained unchanged, at the level of pre-culture conditions. Under full darkness all plants exhibited a significantly higher DMSP concentration compared with algae grown at low photon flux rates of 2 to 30µmol m−2 s−1. These data show a correlation between growth pattern and DMSP biosynthesis, and may point to a species-specific minimum amount of light energy necessary for DMSP accumulation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Charlson, R. J., Lovelock, J. E., Andreae, M. O., Warren, S. G. (1987). Oceanic phytoplankton, atmospheric sulphur, cloud albedo and climate. Nature, Lond. 326: 655–661
Dickson, D. M., Wyn Jones, R. G., Davenport, J. (1980). Steady state osmotic adaptation inUlva lactuca. Planta 150: 158–165
Dickson, D. M., Wyn Jones, R. G., Davenport, J. (1982). Osmotic adaptation inUlva lactuca under fluctuating salinity regimes. Planta 155: 409–415
Edwards, D. M., Reed, R. H., Chudek, J. A. Foster, R., Stewart, W. D. P. (1987). Organic solute accumulation in osmotically-stressedEnteromorpha intestinalis. Mar. Biol. 95: 583–592
Edwards, D. M., Reed, R. H., Stewart, W. D. P. (1988). Osmoacclimation inEnteromorpha intestinalis: long-term effects of osmotic stress on organic solute accumulation. Mar. Biol. 98: 467–476
Fortes, M. D. Lüning, K. (1980). Growth rates of North Sea macroalgae in relation to temperature, irradiance and photoperiod. Helgoländer Meeresunters. 34: 15–29
Iverson, R. L., Nearhoof, F. L., Andreae, M. O. (1989). Production of dimethylsulfonium propionate and dimethylsulfide by phytoplankton in estuarine and coastal waters. Limnol. Oceanogr. 34: 53–67
Karsten, U., Kirst, G. O. (1989). Intracellular solutes, photosynthesis and respiration of the green algaBlidingia minima in response to salinity stress. Botanica Acta (Ber. dt. bot. Ges.) 102: 123–128
Karsten, U., Wiencke, C., Kirst, G. O. (1990). Theβ-dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP) content of macroalgae from Antarctica and Southern Chile. Botanica mar. 33: 143–146
Karsten, U., Wiencke, C., Kirst, G. O. (1991). The effect of light intensity and daylength on theβ-dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP) content of marine green macroalgae from Antarctica. Pl. Cell Envir. (in press)
Lobban, C. S., Harrison, P. J., Duncan, M. J. (1985) The physiological ecology of seaweeds. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Ohno, M. (1969). A physiological ecology of the early stage of some marine algae. Rep. Usa U.S.A. mar. biol. Stn, Kochi Univ. (Kochi-Ken, Japan) 16: 1–42
Provasoli, L. (1968). Media and prospects for cultivation of marine algae. In: Watanabe, A., Hattori, A. (eds.) Cultures and collections of algae. Japanese Society of Plant Physiology, Tokyo, p. 47–74
Reed, R. H. (1983). Measurements and osmotic significance ofβ-dimethylsulphoniopropionate in marine macroalgae. Mar. Biol. Lett. 4: 173–181
Sand-Jensen, K. (1988). Minimum light requirements for growth inUlva lactuca. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 50: 187–193
Turner, S. M., Malin, G., Liss, P. S., Harbour, D. S., Holligan, P. M. (1988). The seasonal variation of dimethyl sulfide and dimethylsulfoniumpropionate concentrations in nearshore waters. Limnol. Oceanogr. 33: 364–375
Wiencke, C. (1990). Seasonality of red and green macroalgae from Antarctica determined in a long-term culture study under fluctuating Antarctic daylengths. Polar Biol. 10: 601–607
Wiencke, C., tom Dieck, I. (1990). Temperature requirements for growth and survival of macroalgae from Antarctica and southern Chile. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 59: 157–170
Wiencke, C., Fischer, G. (1990). Growth and stable isotope composition of cold-water macroalgae in relation to light and temperature. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 65: 283–292
White, R. H. (1982). Analysis of dimethyl sulfonium compounds in marine algae. J. mar. Res. 40: 529–536
Young, A. J., Collins, J. C., Russell, G. (1987a). Solute regulation in the euryhaline marine algaEnteromorpha prolifera (O. F. Müll). J. exp. Bot. 38: 1298–1308
Young, A. J., Collins, J. C., Russell, G. (1987b). Ecotypic variation in the osmotic responses ofEnteromorpha intestinalis (L.) Link. J. exp. Bot. 38: 1309–1324
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by O. Kinne, Oldendorf/Luhe
Contribution no. 302 of the Alfred Wegener Institute of Polar and Marine Research
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Karsten, U., Wiencke, C. & Kirst, G.O. Growth pattern andβ-dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP) content of green macroalgae at different irradiances. Mar. Biol. 108, 151–155 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01313483
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01313483