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Highly predictable photosynthetic production in natural macroalgal communities from incoming and absorbed light

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Abstract

Photosynthesis–irradiance relationships of macroalgal communities and thalli of dominant species in shallow coastal Danish waters were measured over a full year to test how well community production can be predicted from environmental (incident irradiance and temperature) and community variables (canopy absorptance, species number and thallus metabolism). Detached thalli of dominant species performed optimally at different times of the year, but showed no general seasonal changes in photosynthetic features. Production capacity of communities at high light varied only 1.8-fold over the year and was unrelated to incident irradiance, temperature and mean thallus photosynthesis, while community absorptance was a highly significant predictor. Actual rates of community photosynthesis were closely related to incident and absorbed irradiance alone. Community absorptance in turn was correlated to canopy height and species richness. The close relationship of community photosynthesis to irradiance is due to the fact that (1) large differences in thallus photosynthesis of individual species are averaged out in communities composed of several species, (2) seasonal replacement of species keeps communities metabolically active, and (3) maximum possible absorptance at 100% constrains the total photosynthesis of all species. Our results imply that the photosynthetic production of macroalgal communities is more predictable than their complex and dynamic nature suggest and that predictions are possible over wide spatial scales in coastal waters by measurements of vegetation cover, incoming irradiance and canopy absorptance.

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Acknowledgment

This work was supported by grants from the Carlsberg Foundation to ALM.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Biological Laboratory, Strandpromenaden 5, 3000, Helsingør, Denmark

    Anne Lise Middelboe

  2. Freshwater Biological Laboratory, Helsingørsgade 51, 3400, Hillerød, Denmark

    Kaj Sand-Jensen & Thomas Binzer

Authors
  1. Anne Lise Middelboe
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  2. Kaj Sand-Jensen
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  3. Thomas Binzer
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Correspondence to Anne Lise Middelboe.

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Communicated by Christian Koerner.

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Middelboe, A.L., Sand-Jensen, K. & Binzer, T. Highly predictable photosynthetic production in natural macroalgal communities from incoming and absorbed light. Oecologia 150, 464–476 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-006-0526-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-006-0526-9

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