0000000000590822
AUTHOR
Félix L. Figueroa
Macroalgal responses to ocean acidification depend on nutrient and light levels
Ocean acidification may benefit algae that are able to capitalize on increased carbon availability for photosynthesis, but it is expected to have adverse effects on calcified algae through dissolution. Shifts in dominance between primary producers will have knock-on effects on marine ecosystems and will likely vary regionally, depending on factors such as irradiance (light vs. shade) and nutrient levels (oligotrophic vs. eutrophic). Thus experiments are needed to evaluate interactive effects of combined stressors in the field. In this study, we investigated the physiological responses of macroalgae near a CO2 seep in oligotrophic waters off Vulcano (Italy). The algae were incubated in situ …
Photosynthesis of the red alga Gracilaria chilensis under natural solar radiation in an estuary in southern Chile
The photosynthetic performance and pigment content of Gracilaria chilensis Bird, McLachlan, and Oliveira were measured under natural solar radiation in the Quempillen river estuary (southern Chile) in order to assess the short-term acclimation of this species to the current levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation during midsummer. The effect of the tidal fluctuation was evaluated in algae exposed for 3 days to two light climates in cages suspended at two depths (0.5 and 1.5 m from the bottom). Responses to high solar radiation at noon were also assessed to gain insights into rapid photochemical kinetics and the degree of photoinhibition. Results indicated that G. chilensis is a shade-adapted s…