Photoprotective responses in a brown macroalgae Cystoseira tamariscifolia to increases in CO2 and temperature.

Global warming and ocean acidification are increasingly affecting coastal ecosystems, with impacts that vary regionally depending upon local biogeography. Ocean acidification drives shifts in seaweed community dominance that depend on interactions with other factors such as light and nutrients. In this study, we investigated the photophysiological responses in the brown macroalgae species Cystoseira tamariscifolia (Hudson) Papenfuss with important structural role in the coastal Mediterranean communities. These algae were collected in the Cabo de Gata-Nijar Natural Park in ultraoligotrophic waters (algae exposed under high irradiance and less nutrient conditions) vs. those collected in the La Araña beach in oligotrophic waters (algae exposed at middle nutrient and irradiance conditions) in the Mediterranean Sea. They were incubated in mesocosms, under two levels of CO2; ambient (400-500 ppm) and high CO2 (1200-1300 ppm), combined with two temperatures (ambient temperature; 20 °C and ambient temperature + 4 °C; 24 °C) and the same nutrient conditions of the waters of the origin of macroalgae. Thalli from two sites on the Spanish Mediterranean coast were significantly affected by increases in pCO2 and temperature. The carotenoids (fucoxanthin, violaxanthin and β-carotene) contents were higher in algae from oligotrophic than that from ultraoligotrophic water, i.e., algae collected under higher nutrient conditions respect to less conditions, increase photoprotective pigments content. Thalli from both locations upregulated photosynthesis (as Fv/Fm) at increased pCO2 levels. Our study shows that ongoing ocean acidification and warming can increase photoprotection and photosynthesis in intertidal macroalgae

The calcareous brown alga Padina pavonica in southern Britain: population change and tenacity over 300 years

Understanding long-term persistence and variability in species populations can help to predict future survival, growth and distribution; however, sustained observations are exceedingly rare. We examine and interpret a remarkable record of the calcareous brown alga Padina pavonica (Phaeophyceae) at its northern limit on the south coast of England (50°N, 1–3°W) from 1680 to 2014, which is probably the longest compilation and review of any marine algal species. Over this period, which extends from the middle of the Little Ice Age to the present, there has been considerable variability in temperature and storminess. We identified a significant number of site extinctions in the second half of the nineteenth century, which coincided with cooler conditions and stormier weather. To interpret thesechanges, we measured recruitment, growth and production of tetraspores at sheltered and exposed sites in 2012–2014, years which had low and high spring temperatures. Potential spore production was greater at the sheltered site due to a longer growing period and survival of larger fronds. Delayed growth in the cooler spring resulted in smaller fronds and lower potential production of tetraspores by early summer. Yet in the warmer year, rapid initial growth caused higher sensitivity to damage and dislodgement by summer storms, which also limited potential spore production. Antagonistic responses to multiple stressors and disturbances make future predictions of survival and distribution difficult. Fronds of Padina pavonica are sensitive to both temperature and physical disturbances, yet vegetative perennation appears to have enabled population persistence and explained the longevity of remaining populations

Continuous monitoring of in vivo chlorophyll a fluorescence in ulva rigida (chlorophyta) submitted to different co2, nutrient and temperature regimes

A Monitoring-PAM fluorometer with high temporal resolution (every 5 min) was used to assess the effects on photosynthesis in Ulva rigida (Chlorophyta) during exposure to 2 different CO2 conditions: current ('LC', 390 ppm), and the predicted level for the year 2100 ('HC', 700 ppm) in a crossed combination with 2 different daily pulsed nitrate concentrations ('LN', 5 mu M and 'HN', 50 mu M) and 2 temperature regimes (ambient and ambient +4 degrees C). Effective quantum yield (Delta F/F-m') in the afternoon was lower under HCLN conditions than under the other treatments. The decrease in Delta F/F-m' from noon to the afternoon was significantly lower under +4 degrees C compared to ambient temperature. Maximal quantum yield (F-v/F-m) decreased during the night with a transient increase 1 to 3 h after sunset, whereas a transient increase in Delta F/F-m' was observed after sunrise. These transient increases have been related to activation/ deactivation of the electron transport rate and the relaxation of non-photochemical quenching. Relative electron transport rate was higher under the LC and +4 degrees C treatment, but the differences were not significant due to high variability in daily irradiances. Redundancy analysis on the data matrix for the light periods indicates that photosynthetically active radiation through the day is the main variable determining the physiological responses. The effects of nutrient levels (mainly carbon) and experimental increase of temperature were low but significant. During the night, the effect of nutrient availability is of special importance with an opposite effect of nitrogen compared to carbon increase. The application of the Monitoring-PAM to evaluate the effects of environmental conditions by simulating climate change variations under outdoor-controlled, semi-controlled conditions is discussed

Continuous monitoring of in vivo chlorophyll a fluorescence in ulva rigida (chlorophyta) submitted to different co2, nutrient and temperature regimes

A Monitoring-PAM fluorometer with high temporal resolution (every 5 min) was used to assess the effects on photosynthesis in Ulva rigida (Chlorophyta) during exposure to 2 different CO2 conditions: current (\u27LC\u27, 390 ppm), and the predicted level for the year 2100 (\u27HC\u27, 700 ppm) in a crossed combination with 2 different daily pulsed nitrate concentrations (\u27LN\u27, 5 mu M and \u27HN\u27, 50 mu M) and 2 temperature regimes (ambient and ambient +4 degrees C). Effective quantum yield (Delta F/F-m\u27) in the afternoon was lower under HCLN conditions than under the other treatments. The decrease in Delta F/F-m\u27 from noon to the afternoon was significantly lower under +4 degrees C compared to ambient temperature. Maximal quantum yield (F-v/F-m) decreased during the night with a transient increase 1 to 3 h after sunset, whereas a transient increase in Delta F/F-m\u27 was observed after sunrise. These transient increases have been related to activation/ deactivation of the electron transport rate and the relaxation of non-photochemical quenching. Relative electron transport rate was higher under the LC and +4 degrees C treatment, but the differences were not significant due to high variability in daily irradiances. Redundancy analysis on the data matrix for the light periods indicates that photosynthetically active radiation through the day is the main variable determining the physiological responses. The effects of nutrient levels (mainly carbon) and experimental increase of temperature were low but significant. During the night, the effect of nutrient availability is of special importance with an opposite effect of nitrogen compared to carbon increase. The application of the Monitoring-PAM to evaluate the effects of environmental conditions by simulating climate change variations under outdoor-controlled, semi-controlled conditions is discussed

Continuous monitoring of in vivo chlorophyll a fluorescence in Ulva rigida (Chlorophyta) submitted to different CO2, nutrient and temperature regimes

A Monitoring-PAM fluorometer with high temporal resolution (every 5 min) was used to assess the effects on photosynthesis in Ulva rigida (Chlorophyta) during exposure to 2 different CO2 conditions: current ('LC', 390 ppm), and the predicted level for the year 2100 ('HC', 700 ppm) in a crossed combination with 2 different daily pulsed nitrate concentrations ('LN', 5 mu M and 'HN', 50 mu M) and 2 temperature regimes (ambient and ambient +4 degrees C). Effective quantum yield (Delta F/F-m') in the afternoon was lower under HCLN conditions than under the other treatments. The decrease in Delta F/F-m' from noon to the afternoon was significantly lower under +4 degrees C compared to ambient temperature. Maximal quantum yield (F-v/F-m) decreased during the night with a transient increase 1 to 3 h after sunset, whereas a transient increase in Delta F/F-m' was observed after sunrise. These transient increases have been related to activation/ deactivation of the electron transport rate and the relaxation of non-photochemical quenching. Relative electron transport rate was higher under the LC and +4 degrees C treatment, but the differences were not significant due to high variability in daily irradiances. Redundancy analysis on the data matrix for the light periods indicates that photosynthetically active radiation through the day is the main variable determining the physiological responses. The effects of nutrient levels (mainly carbon) and experimental increase of temperature were low but significant. During the night, the effect of nutrient availability is of special importance with an opposite effect of nitrogen compared to carbon increase. The application of the Monitoring-PAM to evaluate the effects of environmental conditions by simulating climate change variations under outdoor-controlled, semi-controlled conditions is discussed

Short-term effects of co2, nutrients and temperature on three marine macroalgae under solar radiation

Three macroalgal species belonging to Chlorophyta (Ulva rigida), Rhodophyta (Ellisolandia elongata) and Phaeophyceae (Heterokontophyta; Cystoseira tamariscifolia), naturally growing at the same shore level and representing 3 morpho-functional groups, were exposed to short-term changes in temperature under different carbon and nitrogen regimes. Experiments were conducted in outdoor tanks at 4 combinations of carbon and nitrogen levels under reduced solar radiation. In vivo chl a fluorescence parameters and pigment contents were monitored to assess diurnal physiological responses and potential for recovery. Strong fluctuations in chl a fluorescence parameters, but not in chl a content, were observed in response to diurnal variation in solar radiation and light climate within the tanks; sensitivity varied between algal species and, in some cases, depended on the carbon and nitrogen regime. Nitrogen uptake was similarly high in U. rigida and E. elongata and lowest in C. tamariscifolia. In U. rigida and E. elongata, chl a concentrations decreased after high-carbon treatments. Effective photosystem II quantum efficiency was reduced in all species at noon, and lowest in C. tamariscifolia. The results highlight the complexity of physiological short-term acclimations which were most likely linked to biochemical changes at the cellular level. Long-term experiments are required in future for more comprehensive investigation of the observed interactive effects of the different environmental parameters

A new approach for cultivating the cyanobacterium Nostoc calcicola (MACC-612) to produce biomass and bioactive compounds using a thin-layer raceway pond

The culture of microalgae and cyanobacteria in open systems has been improved through the novel approach of thin-layer raceway ponds. The importance of studying mass cultivation of the cyanobacterium Nostoc calcicola (further as Nostoc) lies in its biotechnological potential as a source of bioactive compounds for food and non-food applications. These compounds include polysaccharides, mycosporine-like amino acids and phycocyanin. Nostoc was cultured outdoors in a thin-layer raceway pond where the biomass production, physiological status, photosynthetic activity, and biochemical composition were monitored through the experimental period of 5 days. The biomass, as did the maximal quantum yield of PSII, maximal electron transport rate (ETRmax) and photosynthetic efficiency (αETR) increased throughout the experimental period showing the optimal operation of the thin-layer raceway ponds, due to the light penetrates deeper into the thin culture layer and thus more light is available to the cells. Oxygen levels in the culture increased over time, but no photoinhibition was evident indicating optimal action of non-photochemical mechanisms. Nostoc increased the total internal carbon content over the experimental period. Chlorophyll increased, whereas the N compounds such as the biliprotein phycocyanin decreased. Among the UV-absorbing compounds, polyphenols, mycosporine-like amino acids, such as shinorine and other unknown UV-A absorbing compounds were detected. There components showed a positive correlation to antioxidant activity. Thus, the optimal accumulation of biomass and the accumulation of bio-active compounds having antioxidant capacity show the possible biotechnological applications of Nostoc

Short-term effects of increasing co2, nitrate and temperature on three mediterranean macroalgae: biochemical composition

Short-term effects of increasing pCO(2); 380 ppm (LC) vs. 700 ppm (HC); at different nitrogen levels; 5 mu M nitrate (LN) vs. 50 mu M (HN); on the contents of protein, mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs), phenolic compounds and total fatty acids, antioxidant activity, calcification and C: N ratios were analyzed in 3 eulittoral Mediterranean macroalgae with different bio-optical characteristics and carbon assimilation efficiencies: Cystoseira tamariscifolia (Heterokontophyta), Ulva rigida (Chlorophyta) and Ellisolandia elongata (Rhodophyta). After acclimation to different pCO(2) and nitrogen conditions for 6 d, the algae were subjected to a 4 degrees C temperature increase for 3 d. Increasing temperature and pCO(2) produced alterations in the biochemical composition of the 3 macroalgae. Short-term variations of protein levels were observed in U. rigida, with clearly decreased values in the HCLN treatment. In C. tamariscifolia, protein decreased after the temperature increase but only under LC. The interaction of temperature and N affected phenolic compounds only in U. rigida and the content of MAAs in E. elongata. The functional patterns of the 3 macroalgae in response to the pCO(2), nitrogen and temperature regimes may be explained in terms of their bio-optical characteristics and antioxidant activity. The vulnerability and acclimation of the 3 species to the expected variations of climate change factors are discussed