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Diurnal changes of photoadaptive pigments in microphytobenthos
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 02:14 authored by Jordan, L, Andrew McMinnAndrew McMinn, Thompson, PMicrophytobenthos need photoadaptive strategies to survive the highly dynamic light environment in which they reside. Xanthophyll pigments can provide photoprotection by cycling electrons between epoxide and de-epoxide forms, dissipating excess light energy as heat. This study examined the xanthophyll cycle in microphytobenthos on a tidally exposed substrate at Browns River, Tasmania. Fv/Fm decreased from 0.52+0.01 to 0.47+0.01 at noon in surface samples and a decrease in the diadinoxanthin:chlorophyll-a ratio from 0.022+0.003 to 0.015+0.005 also suggests that the microphytobenthos was under physiological stress at noon. The results indicate that the cells exposed to light at the surface migrated deeper into the sediments and replenished the epoxide form of their xanthophylls. The results suggest that micrphytobenthos utilizes both behavioural and physiological strategies to survive in the dynamic intertidal environment.
History
Publication title
Marine Biological Association of The United Kingdom. JournalVolume
90Issue
5Pagination
1025-1032ISSN
0025-3154Department/School
Institute for Marine and Antarctic StudiesPublisher
Cambridge Univ PressPlace of publication
40 West 20Th St, New York, USA, Ny, 10011-4211Rights statement
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2009Repository Status
- Restricted