Photoacclimation of Ulva rotundata (Chlorophyta) under natural irradiance

Two vegetative clones (designated 11/85 and 7/86 in accordance with month/year of collection) of the green macroalga Ulva rotundata were collected in the vicinity of Beaufort, North Carolina, USA. Each was grown in an outdoor continuous-flow system in summer (≥20°C) of 1986 and late winter (10° to 17°C) of 1987, in irradiances ranging from 9 to 100% of full sunlight, with and without NH4+enrichment. Continuous enrichment of influent estuarine water (dissolved inorganic nitrogen ∼2 μM, N:P≤5) to 8-12 μM NH4+had only a slight effect on growth rate. Temperature changes of 2 to 3°C had a much greater effect. Prolonged exposure to a given daily irradiance resulted in acclimation, exposure to a given daily irradiance resulted in acclimation, indicated by faster growth of conditioned plants relative to those transferred from a different irradiance. Most of the difference in growth rates between transferred and control plants was attributed to differences in thallus absorptance. Growth was photoinhibited above 40% sunlight at temperatures below ∼15°C, but not above ∼20°C. Following interday irradiance transfers, thallus percent dry weight changed in a manner that suggests different response times for photosynthesis and cell division. © 1989 Springer-Verlag.

Duke Scholars

Author Joseph S. Ramus Marine Science and Conservation