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Interactive effects of ultraviolet radiation and salinity on the ecophysiology of two Arctic red algae from shallow waters

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Abstract

In a comparative ecophysiological study, the abundant red macroalgae Devaleraea ramentacea (L.) Guiry and Palmaria palmata (L.) O. Kuntze from shallow waters of the Arctic Kongsfjord (Spitsbergen) were exposed to hyposaline and hypersaline media, in combination with and without artificial UV radiation, to evaluate the interactive effects of both environmental parameters on optimum quantum yield of photosynthesis, as well as on the physiological capability to synthesise and accumulate photoprotective mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs). While D. ramentacea exhibited euryhaline features and acclimated well to the UV radiation applied, P. palmata can be characterised as a stenohaline plant because of its high mortality even under mild hyposaline conditions (15 PSU). In addition, the latter species showed a limited ability to acclimate to changing PAR/UV radiation, pointing to a relatively low physiological plasticity. Both species synthesised and accumulated MAAs after UV treatment. However, only in D. ramentacea was a correlation between increasing MAA concentration and decreasing photosynthetic sensitivity under UV observed. All ecophysiological data from the laboratory correlate well with field observations, where both red-algal species co-exist in the same shallow-water habitat of the Kongsfjord. However, while P. palmata becomes more often greenish, sometimes slightly bleached over the summer months, D. ramentacea appears much more healthy under the prevailing environmental conditions.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Heike Lippert, Eva Philipp and Stefan Kremb for providing field samples, and the Ny-Ålesund International Research and Monitoring Facility for their support. This project was financially supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Ka 899/3-1/2) and the German Research Minister (BMBF) (project MONA-03F0229).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Strasse 3, 18051, Rostock, Germany

    Ulf Karsten

  2. Alfred-Wegener-Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 , Bremerhaven, Germany

    Angelika Dummermuth, Kirsten Hoyer & Christian Wiencke

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  1. Ulf Karsten
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  2. Angelika Dummermuth
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  3. Kirsten Hoyer
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  4. Christian Wiencke
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Correspondence to Ulf Karsten.

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Karsten, U., Dummermuth, A., Hoyer, K. et al. Interactive effects of ultraviolet radiation and salinity on the ecophysiology of two Arctic red algae from shallow waters. Polar Biol 26, 249–258 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-002-0462-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-002-0462-z

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