Effects of photoacclimation on the light niche of corals: a process-based approach

Hoogenboom, Mia O., Connolly, Sean R., and Anthony, Kenneth R.N. (2009) Effects of photoacclimation on the light niche of corals: a process-based approach. Marine Biology, 156 (12). pp. 2493-2503.

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Abstract

The ecology of photosynthetic organisms is influenced by the need to adjust the photosynthetic apparatus to variable light environments (photoacclimation). In this study, we quantified different components of the photoacclimation process for a reef-building coral (Turbinaria mesenterina, Lamarck, 1816): including, variation in absorption cross-section, size of photosynthetic units, turnover time, chlorophyll content, and colony respiration. We used these calibrations to characterize this species’ light niche, and to determine the sensitivity of the niche boundaries to different processes of photoacclimation. Results showed that the breadth of the light niche was most sensitive to the size of the photosynthetic unit, absorption cross-section, and rates of respiration. Habitats with the highest light availability did not lead to maximal energy acquisition. This was because, although corals acclimated to high light have high rates of photosynthesis per unit chlorophyll, their chlorophyll content was strongly reduced. This suggests that potential energetic benefits that could be achieved through increased light harvesting (i.e ., increased chlorophyll content) in high-light habitats are outweighed by costs associated with photoprotection. Such costs appear to place an upper bound on the habitat distributions of coral species. Our approach reveals how the photophysiological processes involved in photoacclimation interact to determine the light niche.

Item ID: 10513
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1432-1793
Keywords: marine science; AFDC; light intensity gradient; energy acquisition; absorption cross-section; photosynthesis; photosynthetic unit size; Turbinaria mesenterina
Date Deposited: 19 Apr 2010 04:29
FoR Codes: 01 MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES > 0102 Applied Mathematics > 010202 Biological Mathematics @ 50%
06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0602 Ecology > 060203 Ecological Physiology @ 50%
SEO Codes: 97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970106 Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences @ 70%
96 ENVIRONMENT > 9608 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity > 960808 Marine Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity @ 30%
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