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Physiological responses of a green algae (Ulva prolifera) exposed to simulated acid rain and decreased salinity

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

In order to evaluate the combined effects of simulated acid rain (SAR) and salinity on the physiological responses of macroalgae, Ulva prolifera was cultured under three salinity treatments (5, 10, 25 ‰) and at different pH, i.e., at pH 4.4 (C), pH 4.4(F), where the pH of the culture increased from 4.4 to approximately 7.8 during the cultivation period, or in absence of SAR at pH 8.2(C), at 100 μmol(photon) m–2 s–1 and 20°C. Compared to 25‰ salinity, Relative growth rate (RGR) of U. prolifera was enhanced by 10‰ salinity, but decreased by 5‰ salinity. No significant differences in RGR were observed between the pH 8.2(C) and pH 4.4(F) treatments, but the chlorophyll a content was reduced by SAR. Negative effects of SAR on the photosynthesis were observed, especially under low salinity treatments. Based on the results, we suggested that the U. prolifera showed a tolerance to a wide range of salinity in contrast to the low pH induced by acid rain.

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Abbreviations

Chl:

chlorophyll

EPB:

epibrassinolide

Fv′/Fm′:

effective quantum yield of PSII photochemical efficiency

Fv/Fm :

maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemical efficiency

FM:

fresh mass

pH 8.2(C):

the treatment without simulated acid rain, the pH was kept at about 8.2

pH 4.4(C):

in the presence of simulated acid rain, the pH of the culture was kept at about 4.4

pH 4.4(F):

in the presence of simulated acid rain, the pH of the culture increased from 4.4 to approximately 7.8 during the cultivation period

P G :

gross photosynthetic rate

P N :

net photosynthetic rate

R D :

dark respiration rate

RGR:

relative growth rate

SAR:

simulated acid rain

S5:

the treatment with salinity of 5‰

S10:

the treatment with salinity of 10‰

S25:

the treatment with salinity of 25‰

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315211, China

    Y. H. Li, D. Wang, X. T. Xu, X. X. Gao, X. Sun & N. J. Xu

Authors
  1. Y. H. Li
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  2. D. Wang
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  3. X. T. Xu
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  4. X. X. Gao
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  5. X. Sun
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  6. N. J. Xu
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Correspondence to N. J. Xu.

Additional information

Acknowledgments: This study was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province (LQ15D060002), the National Natural Science Foundation (41606129), the Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province (1508085QC67), PhD research startup foundation of Ningbo Univ. (F01259144702), Ningbo University “Fisheries” Priority Subject Open Fund of Zhejiang Province (xkzsc1516) and was also sponsored by K.C.Wong Magna Fund in Ningbo University.

Author contributions: On the basis of an original idea from Y.H. Li, the concept of this paper was developed in discussion between all authors. Y.H. Li, D. Wang, X.T. Xu, and X.X. Gao performed the experiments. All the authors contributed to data analysis and discussion and the writing of the paper.

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Li, Y.H., Wang, D., Xu, X.T. et al. Physiological responses of a green algae (Ulva prolifera) exposed to simulated acid rain and decreased salinity. Photosynthetica 55, 623–629 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-017-0689-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-017-0689-0

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