Photosynthetic characteristics of Thalassia testudinum measured in situ by pulse-amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorometry: methodological and scale-based considerations
Durako, M.J.; Kunzelman, J.I. (2002). Photosynthetic characteristics of Thalassia testudinum measured in situ by pulse-amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorometry: methodological and scale-based considerations. Aquat. Bot. 73(2): 173-185. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3770(02)00020-7
In: Aquatic Botany. Elsevier Science: Tokyo; Oxford; New York; London; Amsterdam. ISSN 0304-3770; e-ISSN 1879-1522, more
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| Keywords |
Chemical reactions > Photochemical reactions > Photosynthesis
Flora > Weeds > Marine organisms > Seaweeds > Sea grass
Fluorimeters
Properties > Physical properties > Electrical properties > Dielectric constant
Thalassia testudinum K.D.Koenig, 1805 [WoRMS]
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| Authors | | Top |
- Durako, M.J.
- Kunzelman, J.I.
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| Abstract |
Shoot-to-landscape scale sources of variation in photosynthetic characteristics of Thalassia testudinum, as measured in situ using a submersible pulse-amplitude modulated fluorometer (diving-PAM), were investigated. Shoot-scale variation was assessed to develop a standard-methods protocol for this species. Significant within-shoot and among-shoot scale variation was observed for several PAM-fluorescence parameters. The fraction of incident photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) absorbed by rank 1 (youngest) leaves, 0.67 ± 0.03, was significantly lower than the PAR absorbed by rank 2 and 3 leaves (0.78 ± 0.04 and 0.77 ± 0.04, respectively). Quantum yields (Y) and photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm) exhibited greater variability and generally decreased with increasing leaf age (Y =0.78 ± 0.02, 0.78 ± 0.03, and 0.76 ± 0.06 and Fv/Fm = 0.79 ± 0.02, 0.77 ± 0.5, and 0.75 ± 0.06 for rank 1, 2, and 3 leaves, respectively). Maximum fluorescence of light-acclimated leaves (F´m) significantly decreased from the base to the tip of leaves (1032 ± 203, 1059 ± 139, and 793 ± 107 for the base, middle and tip of the leaf) and Y was significantly reduced from 0.68-0.76 to 0.27-0.62 when measured where leaf lesions were present. However, paired comparisons (with versus without lesions at the tip of the leaf) for the base, middle, and tip areas of rank 2 leaves indicated that lesions effects on photosynthesis were localized only to the area of the lesion (tip). The Y exhibited relatively high variability for short-shoots within seagrass die-off patches and were significantly reduced for short-shoots exhibiting die-off symptoms (rotten leaf base grayish-green leaf color, but no lesions). Negative response slopes for Y and Fv/Fm, measured as part of a landscape-scale sampling program, revealed the presence of significant diurnal (time-of-day) and photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) related variation, with a more negative slope for Y. These results indicate that the selection of leaf tissue, short-shoot location, and time of measurement need to be considered when determining photosynthetic rates for seagrasses in situ. |
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