Effects of the hydroclimatic factors on the primary production of macroalgae

L’objectif principal de la thèse est d’étudier l’activité photosynthétique de différentes populations de Laminaria digitata situées le long des côtes françaises et leurs capacités à faire face aux variations de lumière et de température. Trois populations de L. digitata situées respectivement dans le Nord de la France, en Bretagne Nord et en Bretagne Sud ont été étudiées in situ au cours des marées de vives-eaux (développement d’une chambre benthique permettant la mesure de l’activité photosynthétique à l’immersion) et en laboratoire. Les résultats mettent en évidence une hétérogénéité temporelle et spatiale de la réponse photosynthétique de L. digitata le long de son aire de distribution sur les côtes françaises. L’activité photosynthétique de L. digitata est fortement dépendante des variations saisonnières et journalières des éclairements. Au cours des basses mers de vives-eaux, ces éclairements peuvent entraîner une photoinhibition du photosystème II chez les sporophytes de L. digitata, qui correspond à la mise en place de la photoprotection. Cette photoprotection implique la mise en place du cycle des xanthophylles qui a été également mis en évidence pour la première fois chez les gamétophytes de L. digitata. Entre les différentes populations, l’hétérogénéité de la réponse photosynthétique reflète les conditions environnementales locales de lumière et de température et suggère l’existence d’écotype le long des côtes françaises. Enfin, une comparaison des performances photosynthétiques a été réalisée entre L. digitata et Saccorhiza polyschides, une espèce potentiellement compétitrice de L. digitata en Bretagne.The aim of this thesis was to study the photosynthetic performances of different populations of Laminaria digitata along the French coast and their ability to cope with the variations of light and temperature. Three populations located in the North of France and in the North and South Brittany were studied in situ during spring tides (with the set up of an automated benthic chamber which measure the photosynthetic activity during immersion) and in the laboratory. Results highlight the spatial and temporal heterogeneity in the photosynthetic response of L. digitata along its distributional range on the French coast. The photosynthetic activity of L. digitata is highly dependent on the daily and seasonal variations of irradiance. The high irradiances experienced by the sporophytes of L. digitata during low spring tides can lead to the photoinhibition of the photosystem II which was shown to rely on the set up of the photoprotective mechanisms. Photoprotection implies the activation of the xanthophyll cycle which was also described for the first time in the gametophyte of L. digitata. Between the different populations, the heterogeneity in the photosynthetic response of L. digitata is related to the local light and temperature conditions which may result in different ecotype along the French coast. Finally, photosynthetic performances of L. digitata were compared with those of the opportunistic specie Saccorhiza polyschides which is probably competing with L. digitata in Brittany

Photosynthetic activity and productivity of intertidal macroalgae: in situ measurements, from thallus to community scale

International audienceThe photosynthetic activity and productivity of four dominant canopy intertidal macroalgae were measured under emersion and immersion, at saturating light levels (PAR > 300 μmol photons m−2 s−1), and compared at two sites (eastern and western English Channel) in spring and summer. The photosynthetic activity of thalli was measured by the electron transport rate (ETR) using pulse-amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorescence and the productivity of individuals and of communities was measured by carbon fluxes in closed chambers. Under emersion, when thalli were still hydrated, the uppermost species Pelvetia canaliculata had higher photosynthetic activity (mean ETR between 327 and 460 μmol e− m−2 s−1) and individual gross productivity (between 60 and 212 μmol C gDW−1 h−1) than the lowermost species Laminaria digitata (mean ETR between 24 and 53 μmol e− m−2 s−1 and gross productivity between 2 and 38 μmol C gDW−1 h−1), whatever the site and season. P. canaliculata had higher ETR in air than underwater (averaged 146 μmol e− m−2 s−1) and L. digitata had lower ETR in air than underwater (averaged 112 μmol e− m−2 s−1), while they exhibited respectively 3 and 5 times higher gross productivity underwater. At the community scale, the low mid-shore zone of Fucus serratus had the highest mean gross productivity under emersion (47 mmol C m−2 h−1) while rates were higher for the uppermost than lowermost zone at the eastern site (average 20 and 6 mmol C m−2 h−1 respectively) and of the same order of magnitude for both zones at the western site (about 30 mmol C m−2 h−1). Finally, the variability of under emersion primary productivity among sites and seasons was reduced when the measurements were performed on entire communities compared to isolated individuals of the dominant species

Influence of local environmental conditions on the seasonal acclimation process and the daily integrated production rates of Laminaria digitata (Phaeophyta) in the English Channel

International audienceTwo populations of Laminaria digitata (Hudson) Lamouroux (Ann Mus Hist Nat Paris 20:21-47, 1813) were examined for their seasonal photosynthetic acclimation to clear and turbid-light environments along the French coast of the English Channel. Photosynthesis-irradiance curves, pigment concentrations and the daily in situ integrated oxygen production rates were measured in both populations. Despite the great differences in light attenuation between the sites, the two populations achieved similar oxygen production rates in the field, in relation to high maximal photosynthetic rates, total pigment concentrations and antenna (fucoxanthin + chlorophyll c)/chl a pigment ratios in sporophytes from the turbid environment. Environmental conditions (i.e. light, temperature and nitrogen availability) changed throughout the year in both sites. While the seasonal acclimation trends were evident in the clear-light environment, the strategy in the turbid-light environment differed, tending to maximize light capture throughout the year. This study highlights the diversity of the response of a single species to contrasted light environments

Photosynthesis of Laminaria digitata during the immersion and emersion periods of spring tidal cycles during hot, sunny weather

International audienceThe boreal kelp Laminaria digitata dominates the low intertidal and upper subtidal zones of moderately exposed rocky shores in northwestern Europe. Due to ocean warming, this foundation species is predicted to disappear from French coasts in the near future. Photosynthesis of L. digitata sporophytes was surveyed in situ during spring and summer tidal cycles with emersion periods around midday during hot, sunny weather. The net production (NP) of whole individuals (i.e. the difference between their gross primary production and respiration) was assessed by measuring carbon fluxes inside a closed chamber. Photosynthetic performance of thalli was assessed using pulse-amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorescence parameters, the effective (Φ PSII) and optimal (F V /F M) quantum yields of photosystem II. Content in pigments involved in the xanthophyll cycle, a photoprotective mechanism, was measured in thalli to evaluate the de-epoxidation ratio (DR). NP shifted from positive values (reaching 140 μmol C g DW-1 h-1) during morning immersion to negative values during emersion (reaching-37 μmol C g DW-1 h-1), and did not return to positive values during the following immersion period when respiration was exacerbated. Φ PSII decreased during emersion (down to 0.01), but recovered during afternoon immersion. F V /F M decreased during emersion (down to 0.18) indicating severe photoinhibition. High DR values (up to 0.70) showed the effectiveness of the photoprotective mechanism, which appeared nevertheless insufficient to prevent photodamage during emersion stress. Among the environmental factors contributing to this emersion stress, repeated heat shocks over consecutive tide cycles likely play a leading role. These repeated heat shocks appear to further exacerbate the detrimental effects of warming events on this marginal population of L. digitata. Résumé : Photosynthèse de Laminaria digitata au cours des périodes d'immersion et d'émersion de marées de vive-eau par temps chaud et ensoleillé. La laminaire d'affinité boréale Laminaria digitata domine l'infralittoral de

Photosynthesis of Laminaria digitata during the immersion and emersion periods of spring tidal cycles during hot, sunny weather

The boreal kelp Laminaria digitata dominates the low intertidal and upper subtidal zones of moderately exposed rocky shores in north-western Europe. Due to ocean warming, this foundation species is predicted to disappear from French coasts in the near future. Photosynthesis of L. digitata sporophytes was surveyed in situ during spring and summer tidal cycles with emersion periods around midday during hot, sunny weather. The net production (NP) of whole individuals (i.e. the difference between their gross primary production and respiration) was assessed by measuring carbon fluxes inside a closed chamber. Photosynthetic performance of thalli was assessed using pulse-amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorescence parameters, the effective (ΦPSII) and optimal (Fv/Fm) quantum yields of photosystem II. Content in pigments involved in the xanthophyll cycle, a photoprotective mechanism, was measured in thalli to evaluate the de-epoxidation ratio (DR). NP shifted from positive values (reaching 140 μmol C gDW-1 h-1) during morning immersion to negative values uduring emersion (reaching -37 μmol C gDW-1 h-1), and did not return to positive values during the following immersion period when respiration was exacerbated. ΦPSII decreased during emersion (down to 0.01), but recovered during afternoon immersion. Fv/Fm decreased during emersion (down to 0.18) indicating severe photoinhibition. High DR values (up to 0.70) showed the effectiveness of the photoprotective mechanism, which appeared nevertheless insufficient to prevent photodamage during emersion stress. Among the environmental factors contributing to this emersion stress, repeated heat shocks over consecutive tide cycles likely play a leading role. These repeated heat shocks appear to further exacerbate the detrimental effects of warming events on this marginal population of L. digitata

Benthic Diatoms: What Makes Them Unique

International audienceDiatoms are found in almost all aquatic environments as long as light is available for their photosynthesis. In coastal ecosystems, pelagic diatoms are extensively studied, but their benthic counterparts, more discreet and more difficult to access, are often ignored. Yet living at much lower light intensities, they are a key compartment of coastal ecosystems functioning, being able to produce as much biomass as pelagic diatoms that live in the well-lit surface waters. Benthic diatoms differ considerably from pelagic forms on several aspects: First, pelagic and benthic diatoms do not follow the same seasonal dynamics: In the bay of Brest, we showed that benthic diatoms are the first to bloom in the season, providing food and energy to the ecosystem right from the beginning of spring (with 60% of the total biomass until April). The system then moves from a system dominated by benthic biomass in early spring to a system where the pelagic biomass dominates. Regarding biodiversity, most benthic diatoms species are different from those found in the water column, they are mostly pennate forms and are far more diverse. On the physiological side, benthic diatoms are incredibly well adapted to low light intensities. However, the mechanisms which result in this adaptation remain unclear. We search for the role of the nanostructure of the frustule in the capture of light, but no difference between pelagic and benthic diatoms could be highlighted so far. Of particular interest is that benthic diatoms able to migrate into the sediment, are adapted to the high Si(OH)4 concentrations found in their surrounding and evidence a multiphasic Si uptake with very high half saturation constant (KS). Their capacity to reverse benthic Si(OH)4 fluxes at the interface indicate the important role they also play in the coastal silica cycle and particularly in controlling the pelagic diatom production. It remains to examine the coupling between carbon and silica at the water/ sediment interface and to determine which factors control the benthic production. Further studies are also needed to understand which evolution has allowed pennate diatoms to colonize so successfully the benthic habitat

Dynamics of molybdenum and barium in the Bay of Brest (France) explained by phytoplankton community structure and aggregation events

International audiencePrimary producers are essential organisms for marine ecosystems because they form the basis of food webs, produce half of atmospheric oxygen and are involved in various biogeochemical cycles. At the end of a bloom event, phytoplankton cells are known to produce organic compounds that act as a ‘cement’, allowing the cells to stick together and form large sinking structures called aggregates. These aggregates are microenvironments with chemical properties that are very different from the surrounding water. The main objective of this study was to determine how the temporal variations in cell assemblages over time and the formation of aggregates following a bloom affect the concentrations of molybdenum (Mo) and barium (Ba) in the water column, which are elements typically measured within accretionary hard tissues (e.g., mollusc shells) to track phytoplankton dynamics in the environment. To do so, we performed an environmental monitoring from March to October 2021 at Lanvéoc in the Bay of Brest (France) during which several biological (e.g., variations in phytoplankton assemblages) and chemical (e.g., chemical properties of the water column) parameters were measured once to twice per week. Our results show that spring and summer blooms of Gymnodinium, known to be enriched in Mo, could be one of the reasons explaining the particulate Mo enrichments in the water column. In addition, large phytoplankton aggregates transported a significant amount of Mo to the seafloor and associated suspension feeders. In contrast, the temporal variations in dissolved and particulate Ba concentration were strongly influenced by the formation of diatom blooms. Interestingly, there was a significant shift in Ba from the dissolved to the particulate fraction during the largest diatom bloom in late spring, associated with a significant Ba transport to the seafloor, which may be explained by the adsorption of this element onto diatom frustules. This study therefore highlights the impacts of phytoplankton on the dynamics of these elements in coastal ecosystems

Photosynthetic response to light and temperature in Laminaria digitata gametophytes from two French populations

International audienceGiven the growing body of evidence on the general decline of kelp beds worldwide, it is crucial to understand the physiological responses of kelp gametophyte stages to environmental parameters. We investigated the physiological responses to light and temperature of gametophytes from two populations of Laminaria digitata in contrasting environments along the French coast of the English Channel. Gametophytes of both populations were highly tolerant of high light through an efficient down-regulation of photosynthesis triggered by the activation of the xanthophyll cycle. Temperature increases promoted photosynthesis and photosystem II showed high resistance to short-term exposure to high temperatures currently encountered in the field. Gametophytes from the two sites displayed some differences in their pigment content and photosynthetic characteristics, but low replication and difference in time of sampling precluded tests of potential local adaptation to the light conditions at each site, as observed in previously published results on adult sporophytes. Gametophytes of L. digitata appeared to be resistant to irradiation and temperature conditions currently experienced in the field, confirming their role in persistence of kelp species under stressful environmental conditions

Decline in Kelp in West Europe and Climate

International audienceKelp ecosystems form widespread underwater forests playing a major role in structuring the biodiversity at a regional scale. Some seaweeds such as Laminaria digitata are also economically important, being exploited for their alginate and iodine content. Although some studies have shown that kelp ecosystems are regressing and that multiple causes are likely to be at the origin of the disappearance of certain populations, the extent to which global climate change may play a role remains speculative. Here we show that many populations of L. digitata along European coasts are on the verge of local extinction due to a climate-caused increase in sea temperature. By modeling the spatial distribution of the seaweed, we evaluate the possible implications of global climate change for the geographical patterns of the species using temperature data from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5 (CMIP5). Projections of the future range of L. digitata throughout the 21st century show large shifts in the suitable habitat of the kelp and a northward retreat of the southern limit of its current geographic distribution from France to Danish coasts and the southern regions of the United Kingdom. However, these projections depend on the intensity of warming. A medium to high warming is expected to lead to the extirpation of the species as early as the first half of the 21st century and there is high confidence that regional extinction will spread northwards by the end of this century. These changes are likely to cause the decline of species whose life cycle is closely dependent upon L. digitata and lead to the establishment of new ecosystems with lower ecological and economic values

Seasonal phenology and metabolomics of the introduced red macroalga Gracilaria vermiculophylla, monitored in the Bay of Brest (France)

International audienceSeaweeds represent one of the largest groups of marine aliens in Europe and constitute a large percentage of all introduced marine species. In Brittany, the red macroalga Gracilaria vermiculophylla has invaded the bare areas of brackish waters in saltmarshes. In the Bay of Brest, the alga forms dense monospecific mats on the mud surface and occupies an empty ecological niche, in association with the invasive halophyte, Spartina alterniflora. The phenology of G. vermiculophylla was studied through seasonal monitoring of biomass, density and size of fragments, complemented by metabolomic monitoring using 1H HR-MAS NMR chemical footprinting analyses. Moreover, lipids and pigments were quantified, using high-performance thin layer chromatography for the former and high-performance liquid chromatography and spectrophotometry for the latter. This rhodophyte is present throughout the year, never fixed to a substrate on the mud, with a maximum biomass in the summertime. Phenological observations on algal populations demonstrated a high capacity for fragmentation, with a majority of fragments shorter than 3 cm. Metabolomic analyses highlighted a temporal variability of lipids, pigments and osmolytes between seasons. These results, combined with ecological data, improve our understanding of the acclimation of G. vermiculophylla in Brittany, where it is mainly present in a vegetative state throughout the year. Our study represents an important contribution to understanding the ecological strategies used by this invasive seaweed to colonize and persist in the Bay of Brest