Photosynthesis and net primary productivity in three Antarctic diatoms: Possible significance for their distribution in the Antarctic marine ecosystem

Petrou, K; Ralph, PJ

Photosynthesis and net primary productivity in three Antarctic diatoms: Possible significance for their distribution in the Antarctic marine ecosystem

Petrou, K

Ralph, PJ

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Marine Ecology Progress Series, 2011, 437 pp. 27 - 40
Issue Date:: 2011-09-15

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Petrou, K https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2703-0694	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Ralph, PJ https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3103-7346	en_US
dc.date.issued	2011-09-15	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Marine Ecology Progress Series, 2011, 437 pp. 27 - 40	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0171-8630	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/14915
dc.description.abstract	Photosynthesis and net primary productivity were measured in 3 Antarctic diatoms, Fragilariopsis cylindrus, Pseudo-nitzschia subcurvata and Chaetoceros sp., exposed to rapid changes in temperature and salinity representing a range of conditions found during a seasonal cycle. Measured differences in fluorescence-derived photosynthetic activity and oxygen evolution suggested that some alternative electron cycling activity was present under high irradiances. F. cylindrus displayed the highest rates of relative electron transport and net primary productivity under all salinity and temperature combinations and showed adaptive traits towards the sea-icelike environment. P. subcurvata displayed a preference for low saline conditions where production rates were greatest. However, there was evidence of photosynthetic sensitivity to the lowest temperatures and highest salinities, suggesting a lack of adaptation for dealing with sea-ice-like conditions. Chaetoceros sp. showed high plasticity, acclimating well to all conditions but performing best under pelagic conditions. The study shows species-specific sensitivities to environmental change, highlighting photosynthetic capacity as a potentially important mechanism in ecological niche adaptation. When these data were modelled over different seasons, integrated daily net primary production was greatest under summer pelagic conditions. The findings from this study support the general observations of light control and seasonal development of net primary productivity and species succession in the Antarctic marine ecosystem. © Inter-Research 2011.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Marine Ecology Progress Series	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.3354/meps09291	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Marine Biology & Hydrobiology	en_US
dc.title	Photosynthesis and net primary productivity in three Antarctic diatoms: Possible significance for their distribution in the Antarctic marine ecosystem	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	437	en_US
utslib.for	0602 Ecology	en_US
utslib.for	0405 Oceanography	en_US
utslib.for	0608 Zoology	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Life Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - C3 - Climate Change Cluster
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	437	en_US

Abstract:

Photosynthesis and net primary productivity were measured in 3 Antarctic diatoms, Fragilariopsis cylindrus, Pseudo-nitzschia subcurvata and Chaetoceros sp., exposed to rapid changes in temperature and salinity representing a range of conditions found during a seasonal cycle. Measured differences in fluorescence-derived photosynthetic activity and oxygen evolution suggested that some alternative electron cycling activity was present under high irradiances. F. cylindrus displayed the highest rates of relative electron transport and net primary productivity under all salinity and temperature combinations and showed adaptive traits towards the sea-icelike environment. P. subcurvata displayed a preference for low saline conditions where production rates were greatest. However, there was evidence of photosynthetic sensitivity to the lowest temperatures and highest salinities, suggesting a lack of adaptation for dealing with sea-ice-like conditions. Chaetoceros sp. showed high plasticity, acclimating well to all conditions but performing best under pelagic conditions. The study shows species-specific sensitivities to environmental change, highlighting photosynthetic capacity as a potentially important mechanism in ecological niche adaptation. When these data were modelled over different seasons, integrated daily net primary production was greatest under summer pelagic conditions. The findings from this study support the general observations of light control and seasonal development of net primary productivity and species succession in the Antarctic marine ecosystem. © Inter-Research 2011.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/14915