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Adjustment of photoprotection to tidal conditions in intertidal seagrasses

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 August 2016

D. Kohlmeier ,
C.A. Pilditch ,
J. F. Bornman  and
K. Bischof
D. Kohlmeier*
Affiliation:
Department of Marine Botany, Faculty Biology/Chemistry, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
C.A. Pilditch
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand
J. F. Bornman
Affiliation:
International Institute of Agri-Food Security, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
K. Bischof
Affiliation:
Department of Marine Botany, Faculty Biology/Chemistry, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: D. Kohlmeier, Department of Marine Botany, Faculty Biology/Chemistry, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Light adaptive strategies were studied in a comparative analysis of the congeneric seagrass species Zostera muelleri and Zostera marina at two case study areas in New Zealand and Germany. Surveys in intertidal seagrass meadows were conducted from pre-dawn until sunset on days when either low or high tide coincided with noon. The results show marked fluctuations of photophysiology (optimum and effective quantum yield, non-photochemical quenching, cycling of xanthophyll cycle (XC) pigments) over daily and tidal cycles. At both locations, we observed a near complete conversion (de-epoxidation) of violaxanthin to zeaxanthin at times with high irradiance and a rapid and complete re-epoxidation under subsequent lower light conditions. At the New Zealand site we also observed significantly larger XC-pigment pool sizes in seagrass leaves sampled in a week when low tide coincided with noon (larger daily fluence and higher maximum irradiance), compared with leaves sampled in a week when high tide was at noon. This dynamic adjustment of xanthophyll pool size has not been previously reported for intertidal seagrasses. It adds to our understanding of an important adaptive feature in a highly dynamic light environment and to the general ecology and adaptability of seagrasses.

Keywords

seagrassphotoprotectionxanthophyll cycleintertidal habitatZosteratemperate
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 97 , Special Issue 3: European Marine Biology Symposium , May 2017 , pp. 571 - 579
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2016 

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