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Photosynthetic performances of two deep‐water canopy‐forming fucoid algae across a depth gradient: Interspecific variability and short‐term adaptation to the light environment
Author(s) -
Sant Natàlia,
Ballesteros Enric
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
marine ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.668
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1439-0485
pISSN - 0173-9565
DOI - 10.1111/maec.12666
Subject(s) - photosynthesis , compensation point , biology , algae , botany , canopy , fucales , photosynthetic efficiency , interspecific competition , photosynthetic capacity , respiration rate , acclimatization , saturation (graph theory) , respiration , ecology , transpiration , mathematics , combinatorics
Deep‐water canopy‐forming algae Gongolaria montagnei var. compressa and Ericaria zosteroides (Fucales: Ochrophyta) co‐exist in mixed populations, the first taxa dominating at the upper limit of distribution (20 m) and the second at the lower limit (40 m). This depth distribution pattern is consistent with the photosynthetic performances of both taxa, with E. zosteroides showing higher photosynthetic efficiency (α) and lower light at saturation ( I k ) and compensation ( I c ) than G. montagnei var. compressa . Neither photosynthesis at saturation ( P max ) nor dark respiration showed any significant change at the species level. G. montagnei v. compressa showed higher P max and α at 20 and 40 m, but E. zosteroides did not follow the same trend, although both I k and I c decreased with depth in this species, pointing to an increased capacity of E. zosteroides to show photo‐adaptation. Each species maintained its P sat values when transplanted from the depth where it was dominant to the depth where it was secondary, but in the case of G. montagnei var. compressa it decreased its P sat when transplanted from 40 to 20 m and in the case of E. zosteroides it increased its P sat when transplanted from 20 to 40 m. These results point to a better photosynthetic performance of E. zosteroides than G. montagnei var. compressa at low‐light conditions, information that can be used to improve success in restoration action plans.