Ecophysiological and biochemical variation of the surf zone diatom asterionellopsis glacialis sensu lato from Santa Catarina, Southern Brazil

Patches formed by dense accumulations of diatoms in the surf zone (surf diatoms) are common on sandy beaches with intermediate to dissipative morphodynamic states. Their appearances are correlated with environmental factors such as the passage of cold fronts when onshore winds increase beach hydrodynamics, resuspending epibenthic stocks and accumulating them through the inner surf zone. In Santa Catarina state, Southern Brazil, two beaches are known to have frequent occurrence of accumulations of the surf diatom Asterionellopsis glacialis sensu lato: Rincão Beach (28°50' S) and Navegantes Beach (26°52' S). The high biomass of this alga and its central importance in the trophic structure of the coastal ecosystems suggest studies about its potential applications. In the present study, strains of A. glacialis were isolated, cultured under different conditions and evaluated for ecophysiological aspects: growth rate under different conditions, potential biological activities of exudates, biomass and lipid content, and fatty acid profile. A. glacialis cells in culture showed deformation, which were ameliorated by using agitation and silicon and phosphorus enriched culture media. Exudates of the strains showed no allelopathic effects, although previous studies have indicated activity. Lipid content showed variation depending on the strain and culture media. Values ranged from 9% to 13.6% by dry weight. In all strains saturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids were identified. Some hypotheses were proposed to explain the variation of the lipid contents, fatty acid profiles and physiological features between strains of the same species. We believe that the fatty acids profile of this primary producer has important consequences in the sandy beach ecology.Manchas formadas por densas acumulações de diatomáceas na zona de arrebentação ("diatomáceas de surf") são comuns em praias arenosas com estados morfodinâmicos dissipativos ou intermediários. Seu aparecimento está correlacionado com fatores ambientais, como a passagem de frentes frias, quando ventos em direção a praia promovem maior hidrodinâmica, gerando ressuspensão de estoques bênticos das diatomáceas, acumulando-as na zona de arrebentação interna. No estado de Santa Catarina, sul do Brasil, duas praias são conhecidas por terem frequente ocorrência de acumulações da diatomácea de zona de arrebentação Asterionellopsis glacialis lato sensu: Praia do Rincão (28 ° 50 'S) e Praia de Navegantes (26 ° 52' S). A alta biomassa desta alga e sua importância central na estrutura trófica dos ecossistemas costeiros sugerem estudos sobre suas potenciais aplicações. No presente estudo, cepas de A. glacialis foram isoladas, cultivadas sob diferentes condições e avaliadas quanto a aspectos ecofisiológicos (taxas de crescimento, atividades biológicas de exsudatos e biomassa) e bioquímicos (conteúdo lipídico e perfil de ácidos graxos). As células de A. glacialis em cultura mostraram deformações, as quais foram melhoradas, usando agitação e meios de cultura ricos em silício e fósforo. O exsudato das cepas não mostrou efeito alelopático nem antimicrobiano, embora estudos anteriores tenham indicado essa atividade. O conteúdo lipídico apresentou variação dependendo da cepa e do meio de cultura utilizado. Os valores variaram entre 9% e 13,6%, em massa seca. Em todas as cepas foram identificados ácidos graxos saturados e poli-insaturados. Algumas hipóteses foram propostas para explicar a variação considerável nos níveis de lipídeos, nos perfis de ácidos graxos e as características ecofisiológicas das cepas. Além disso, sugerimos que o conteúdo e a composição de ácidos graxos pode ter consequências importantes na ecologia das praias arenosas onde A. glacialis ocorre como o principal produtor primário

Dinamica temporal de microalgas de zona de arrebentaçăo na praia de Navegantes - SC /

Inclui apęndicesOrientador : Frederico Pereira BrandiniInclui bibliografi

Ecophysiological and biochemical variation of the surf zone diatom asterionellopsis glacialis sensu lato from Santa Catarina, Southern Brazil

Abstract Patches formed by dense accumulations of diatoms in the surf zone (surf diatoms) are common on sandy beaches with intermediate to dissipative morphodynamic states. Their appearances are correlated with environmental factors such as the passage of cold fronts when onshore winds increase beach hydrodynamics, resuspending epibenthic stocks and accumulating them through the inner surf zone. In Santa Catarina state, Southern Brazil, two beaches are known to have frequent occurrence of accumulations of the surf diatom Asterionellopsis glacialis sensu lato: Rincão Beach (28°50' S) and Navegantes Beach (26°52' S). The high biomass of this alga and its central importance in the trophic structure of the coastal ecosystems suggest studies about its potential applications. In the present study, strains of A. glacialis were isolated, cultured under different conditions and evaluated for ecophysiological aspects: growth rate under different conditions, potential biological activities of exudates, biomass and lipid content, and fatty acid profile. A. glacialis cells in culture showed deformation, which were ameliorated by using agitation and silicon and phosphorus enriched culture media. Exudates of the strains showed no allelopathic effects, although previous studies have indicated activity. Lipid content showed variation depending on the strain and culture media. Values ranged from 9% to 13.6% by dry weight. In all strains saturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids were identified. Some hypotheses were proposed to explain the variation of the lipid contents, fatty acid profiles and physiological features between strains of the same species. We believe that the fatty acids profile of this primary producer has important consequences in the sandy beach ecology