Premium
Effects of CO 2 levels and light intensities on growth and amino acid contents in red seaweed Gracilaria lemaneiformis
Author(s) -
Chen Binbin,
Zou Dinghui,
Zhu Mingjun,
Yang Yufeng
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
aquaculture research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-2109
pISSN - 1355-557X
DOI - 10.1111/are.13100
Subject(s) - mariculture , biology , gracilaria , algae , zoology , light intensity , botany , food science , aquaculture , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , physics , optics
Abstract The seaweed Gracilaria lemaneiformis is largely maricultivated in China, for use as food and as a material in the agar industry. This alga experiences ocean acidification caused by rising atmospheric CO 2 levels, and experiences changing light levels caused by self‐shading during the later period of mariculture. In this study, growth and amino acid ( AA ) content responses of G. lemaneiformis to different CO 2 levels (the present and the predicted increased levels) and varying light levels at 28 (±1)°C temperature conditions were investigated. The results showed that a higher light level enhanced algal growth and decreased water loss, but reduced AA accumulation. Decreased pH levels (as a result of CO 2 elevation) also enhanced algal growth and reduced AA contents, but the decreases in the AA score at the lower pH levels were not significant under the two light level treatments. In this study, the light treatments had greater influences on growth and AA contents than CO 2 levels. The results suggest that G. lemaneiformis quality will be negatively affected during the later mariculture production period as levels of CO 2 rise and global temperatures increase.