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Photosynthesis and lipid composition of the Antarctic endemic rhodophyte Palmaria decipiens: effects of changing light and temperature levels

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Abstract

In coastal waters, Antarctic rhodophytes are exposed to harsh environmental conditions throughout the year, like low water temperatures ranging from −1.8°C to 2°C and high light during the summer season. Photosynthetic performance under these conditions may be affected by slowed down enzymatic reactions and the increased generation of reactive oxygen species. The consequence might be a chronic photoinhibition of photosynthetic primary reactions related to increased fragmentation of the D1 reaction centre protein in photosystem II. It is hypothesized that changes in lipid composition of biomembranes may represent an adaptive trait to maintain D1 turnover in response to temperature variation. The interactive effects of high light and low temperature were studied on an endemic Antarctic red alga, Palmaria decipiens, sampled from two shore levels, intertidal and subtidal, and exposed to mesocosm experiments using two levels of natural solar radiation and two different temperature regimes (2–5°C and 5–10°C). During the experimental period of 23 days, maximum quantum yield of photosynthesis decreased in all treatments, with the intertidal specimens exposed at 5–10°C being most affected. On the pigment level, a decreasing ratio of phycobiliproteins to chlorophyll a was found in all treatments. A pronounced decrease in D1 protein concentration occurred in subtidal specimens exposed at 2–5°C. Marked changes in lipid composition, i.e. the ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids, indicated an effective response of specimens to temperature change. Results provide new insights into mechanisms of stress adaptation in this key species of shallow Antarctic benthic communities.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

FA:

Fatty acid

ETRmax:

Maximal electron transport rate

Fv/Fm:

Maximum quantum yield

PAR:

Photosynthetically active radiation

PS II:

Photosystem II

PI-curve:

Photosynthesis-irradiance curve

PUFA:

Poly-unsaturated fatty acid

UV radiation:

Ultraviolet radiation

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Acknowledgments

Funding by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, Bi 772/7-1,2,3) is gratefully acknowledged. We are also thankful to Christian Wiencke as well as the AWI diving team for logistic support and sample supply. SB is grateful for Marie-Louise Kroon’s help during the Antarctic campaign. The study has been performed upon agreement for cooperation between the Dirección Nacional del Antárctico (Argentina) and the Alfred Wegener Institute (Germany).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Marine Botany, University of Bremen, Leobener Strasse NW2, 28359, Bremen, Germany

    Susanne Becker & Kai Bischof

  2. Biosciences-Ecological Chemistry, Alfred Wegener Institute, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570, Bremerhaven, Germany

    Martin Graeve

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  1. Susanne Becker
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  2. Martin Graeve
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  3. Kai Bischof
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Correspondence to Susanne Becker.

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Becker, S., Graeve, M. & Bischof, K. Photosynthesis and lipid composition of the Antarctic endemic rhodophyte Palmaria decipiens: effects of changing light and temperature levels. Polar Biol 33, 945–955 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-010-0772-5

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