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Macroalgal photosynthesis near the southern global limit for growth; Cape Evans, Ross Sea, Antarctica

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Abstract

Photosynthetic characteristics of the red macroalgae Phyllophora antarctica and Phymatolithon foecundum collected from under sea ice at Cape Evans, McMurdo Sound (Ross Sea) were determined using in situ fluorometric and lab-based oxygen exchange techniques. Only 0.16% of incident irradiance penetrated the 2.5 m thick ice cover and photosynthetic parameters for both taxa were characteristic of highly shade-adapted plants. Saturation onset parameter (E k) did not exceed 13 μmol photons m-2 s-1 in either taxon. For Phyllophora antarctica the light saturated photosynthetic rate at –1°C was 10 μmol O2 g-1 FW h-1 and respiration averaged 3.3 μmol O2 g-1 FW h-1 between sampled depths of 10 and 25 m. A light meter deployed at 15 m depth for a year recorded a marked increase in underwater irradiance on the last day of January 2002 coinciding with ice-breakout, and a maximum value for irradiance of 120 μmol photons m-2 s-1 on 9 February 2002. The 2-month ice-free period was the only time when irradiance consistently exceeded compensation (photosynthesis=respiration) and enabled Phyllophora antarctica to accumulate sufficient carbon to result in a measurable increase in thallus area equivalent to a biomass increment of 1.87 mg (DW) per frond. Near the southern global limit for marine macroalgae, conditions that dictate the availability of underwater irradiance are extremely variable from year to year. Low respiration rates enhance longevity of the Phyllophora antarctica thallus, enabling it to not only survive the winter darkness, but also to retain photosynthetic capacity and thus take advantage of windows of higher irradiance.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks to the dive supervisors of K081; Rod Budd and Steve Mercer for completing the dive team and for good company in the field, Donna Sutherland for pigment analyses, Wendy Nelson for advice on taxonomy and Brian Sorrell for comments on the draft. Antarctica New Zealand provided logistic support and this work was funded by FRST contract CO1X0220.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, P.O. Box 11–115, Hamilton, New Zealand

    Anne-Maree Schwarz, Ian Hawes, Alf Norkko, Vonda Cummings & Simon Thrush

  2. National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, P.O. Box 14–901, Wellington, New Zealand

    Neil Andrew

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  1. Anne-Maree Schwarz
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  2. Ian Hawes
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  3. Neil Andrew
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  4. Alf Norkko
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  5. Vonda Cummings
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Correspondence to Anne-Maree Schwarz.

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Schwarz, AM., Hawes, I., Andrew, N. et al. Macroalgal photosynthesis near the southern global limit for growth; Cape Evans, Ross Sea, Antarctica. Polar Biol 26, 789–799 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-003-0556-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-003-0556-2

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