Abstract
Photosynthesis in whole plants of the salt-marsh algae Fucus vesiculosus and Ulva lactuca was evaluated by 14C-uptake under a variety of light intensities at approximately mately monthly intervals during a 15-month study. Photosynthetic capacity in both species was closely related to seasonal irradiation patterns and changes in field biomass. Maximum photosynthesis occurred in the spring and summer months. Photosynthesis on a dry weight basis was higher in U. lactuca, while photosynthesis on a chlorophyll a basis was equal in both species. Photosynthetic capacity was inversely related to pigment content. Maximum chlorophyll a concentrations occurred during the winter. Frond profile studies in F. vesiculosus indicated that apices always exhibited greatest photosynthetic capacity. Uptake of 14C into ethanol-soluble and insoluble fractions was different in each species. F. vesiculosus showed greater activity in the ethanol-soluble fraction while U. lactuca exhibited greater activity in ethanol-insoluble fractions.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Brinkhuis, B. H.: Seasonal variations in macroalgae productivity in a temperate salt-marsh, 269 pp. Ph. D. Thesis, State University of New York at Stony Brook 1975
—: The ecology of temperate salt-marsh fucoids. 1. Occurrence and distribution of Ascophyllum nodosum ecads. Mar. Biol. 34, 325–338 (1976)
—: Seasonal variations in salt-marsh macroalgae photosynthesis. I. Ascophyllum nodosum ecad scorpioides. Mar. Biol. 44, 165–175 (1977)
— and R. F. Jones: Photosynthesis in whole plants of Chondrus crispus. Mar. Biol. 27, 137–141 (1974)
—, N. R. Tempel and R. F. Jones: Photosynthesis and respiration of exposed salt-marsh fucoids. Mar. Biol. 34, 349–359 (1976)
Brown, J. M. A. and A. Johnson: Preliminary studies on the ecology and physiology of Scytothamnus australis. (J. Agardh) HK, of Harv. 1845. Botanica mar. 6, 233–246 (1964)
Chapman, V. J.: The physiological ecology of some New Zealand seaweeds. In: Proceedings of the Fifth International Seaweed Symposium, pp 29–54. Ed. by E. G. Young and J. L. McLachlan. New York and Toronto: Wiley and Sons 1965
Imada, O., Y. Saito and S. Maeki: Relationships between the growth of Porphyra tenera and its culturing conditions in the sea. II. Influence of atmospheric exposure on photosynthesis, growth and others on Porphyra fronds. Bull. Jap. Soc. scient. Fish. 36, 369–376 (1970)
Jeffrey, S. W. and G. F. Humphrey: New spectrophotometric equations for determining chlorophylls a, b, c1 and c2 in higher plants, algae and natural phytoplankton. Biochem. Physiol. Pfl. 167, 191–194 (1975)
Johnson, W. S., A. Gigon, S. L. Gulmon and H. A. Mooney: Comparative photosynthetic capacities of intertidal algae under exposed and submerged conditions. Ecology 55, 450–453 (1974)
Kanwisher, J. W.: Photosynthesis and respiration in some seaweeds. In: Some contemporary studies in marine science, pp 407–420. Ed. by H. Barnes, London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd. 1966
King, R. J. and W. Schramm: Determination of photosynthetic rates for the marine algae Fucus vesiculosus and Laminaria digitata. Mar. Biol. 37, 209–213 (1976a)
——: Photosynthetic rates of benthic algae in relation to light intensity and seasonal variations. Mar. Biol. 37, 215–222 (1976b)
Kremer, B. P. und K. Schmitz: CO2-Fixierung und Stofftransport in benthischen marinen Algen. IV. Zur 14C-Assimilation einiger litoraler Braunalgen in submersem und emersem Zustand. Z. PflPhysiol. 68, 357–363 (1973)
Littler, M. M. and S. N. Murray: The primary productivity of marine macrophytes from a rocky intertidal community. Mar. Biol. 27, 131–135 (1974)
Mathieson, A. C. and R. L. Burns: Ecological studies of economic red algae. 1. Photosynthesis and respiration of Chondrus crispus Stackhouse and Gigartina stellata (Stackhouse) Batters. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 7, 197–206 (1971)
— and T. L. Norall: Photosynthetic studies of Chondrus crispus. Mar. Biol. 33, 207–213 (1975)
Morris, I., H. E. Glover and C. S. Yentsch: Products of photosynthesis by marine phytoplankton: the effect of environmental factors on the relative rates of protein synthesis. Mar. Biol. 27, 1–9 (1974)
Patil, B. A. and G. V. Joshi: Photosynthetic studies in Ulva lactuca. Botanica mar. 13, 111–115 (1970)
——: Photosynthetic studies in Ulva lactuca. Ethanol insoluble fraction. Botanica mar. 14, 22–23 (1971)
Ramus, J., S. I. Beale and D. Mauzerall: Correlation of changes in pigment content with photosynthetic capacity of seaweeds as a function of water depth. Mar. Biol. 37, 231–238 (1976)
Sokal, R. R. and F. J. Rohlf: Biometry, 776 pp. San Francisco: W. H. Freeman & Co. 1969
Strickland, J. D. H. and T. R. Parsons: A practical handbook of seawater analysis. Bull. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 167, 1–311 (1968)
Yokohama, Y.: Photosynthesis-temperature relationships in several benthic marine algae. In: Proceedings of the Seventh International Seaweed Symposium, pp 286–291 Ed. by K. Nisizawa. Tokyo: University of Tokyo Press 1972
Zavodnik, N.: Seasonal variations in rate of photosynthetic activity and chemical composition of the littoral seaweeds common to North Adriatic, Part 1. Fucus virsoides (Don.) J. Ag. Botanica mar. 16, 155–165 (1973)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by M. R. Tripp, Newark
This research was supported by Research Grant AG-375 from the National Science Foundation and, in part, by the State University of New York Research Foundation and the Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Brinkhuis, P.H. Seasonal variations in salt-march macroalgae photosynthesis. II. Fucus vesiculosus and Ulva lactuca . Mar. Biol. 44, 177–186 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00386957
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00386957