Dynamic summer solar radiation in Antarctic coastal ecosystems and its effects on photosyn thesis of the endemic Antarctic brown macroalga Desmarestia menziesii (Phaeophyceae)

• Autores: Ralf Rautenberger, Kai Bischof
• Localización: Algological studies: International Journal of phycological research, ISSN 1864-1318, Nº. 151-152, 2016, págs. 123-150
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a significant stress factor that harms life in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in Antarctica. In summer (January–February), ground-level solar radiation regimes at the Antarctic Carlini Station (62°14'S, 58°40'W) on King George Island (South Shetland Islands) can be highly variable, depending on the presence of clouds. Spectrally-resolved underwater radiation regimes were measured at three study sites in the inner and outer Potter Cove nearby Carlini Station. The clear waters at Peñón de Pesca allowed PAR, UV-A and UV-B radiation to penetrate deeply into the water column, expressed by z1% (i. e. 1%-depths) at 23–25 m, 20–22 m and 13–16 m, respectively, as well as by low attenuation coefficients of downward radiation (Kd). In contrast, turbid waters in the inner Potter Cove and at Peñón Uno reduced the penetration of these three wavebands significantly. The photo-physiological mechanisms allowing macroalgae to acclimate to the incident gradients of PAR and UV radiation at Peñón de Pesca were further elaborated by assessing photo-physiological data on the brown macroalga Desmarestia menziesii (Phaeophyceae), exposed to a PAR range between 15 and 130 μ mol photons m-2 s-1, either in the presence or absence of UV radiation (10.3 W m -2 UV-A and 0.73 W m -2 UV-B). PAM-fluorometry-based measurements revealed a similar decrease of the optimum quantum yield of photosystem II (PSII) under both PAR and UV radiation and a stronger effect of PAR over UV radiation in the regulation of maximum photosynthetic electron transport rate (ETRmax) as well as the photosynthetic light saturation (Ek). The down-regulation of the photochemistry of PSII by PAR as well as the reduction in the photosynthetic electron transport capacity (i.e.ETRmax) indicate important photoprotective mechanisms allowing D. menziesii to response effectively to a combination of PAR and UV stress in their upper subtidal habitat.