Physiological and photomorphogenic effects of light on marine macrophytes
Hanelt, D.; Figueroa, F.L. (2012). Physiological and photomorphogenic effects of light on marine macrophytes, in: Wiencke, C. et al. (Ed.) Seaweed biology: Novel insights into ecophysiology, ecology and utilization. Ecological Studies, 219: pp. 3-23
In: Wiencke, C.; Bischof, K. (Ed.) (2012). Seaweed biology: Novel insights into ecophysiology, ecology and utilization. Ecological Studies, 219. Springer-Verlag: Berlin, Heidelberg. ISBN 978-3-642-28450-2. xiii, 510 pp. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-28451-9, more
In: Heldmaier, G. et al. (Ed.) Ecological Studies. Springer: Heidelberg; Berlin. ISSN 0070-8356; e-ISSN 2196-971X, more
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| Keywords |
Biology > Physiology
Environmental effects > Light effects
Marine/Coastal |
| Authors | | Top |
- Hanelt, D.
- Figueroa, F.L.
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| Abstract |
Although photoautotrophic organisms need light as primary energy source, excessively absorbed energy causes also impairment. Eulittoral and upper sublittoral seaweeds grow in an environment which is quite variable in light conditions. During high tide and/or phytoplankton blooms or high sediment load in the water, light penetration into the water body is relatively low, whereas under clear water conditions and low tide even the upper sublittoral zone can be exposed to excessive irradiances at noon. Thus, seaweeds need to acclimate to the changing light environment, using energy as much as possible under low light conditions, whereas under excessive light the energy conversion process needs to be down regulated by protective mechanisms, which among others convert the absorbed energy into harmless heat and the possibility that harmful oxygen species are produced is minimized. In addition, photosynthetic pigment composition acclimates to different underwater spectra and light is also used as environmental signal for control of morphogenetic processes. Thus, this chapter covers all the main aspects of light effects on seaweeds. |
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