| |
Abstract |
Thallus growth, photoynthetic oxygen evolution and rates of carbon fixation were determinedalong the lamina of the endemic Antarctic brown alga Ascoseira mirabilis (Ascoseirales), grown under simulated Antarctic condtions. The meristem is basally located and forms new blade tiddue under spring-conditions. Light saturated net photosynthesis (P,ax), measures as O? production, was higher in ther intermediate region of the plant (9..8 µmol O? g?¹ fw h?¹). In general, photosynthetic parameters such as dark respiration, gross photosynthesis, photosynthetic efficiency (?) and photosynthetic light compensation (Ic) increased significantly towards the distal region. Carbon-fixation in A. mirabilis also showed thllus-dependent variation. Rates of light and light independent (dark) carbon fixation increased towards the distal regions ranging between 7.6-9.5 and 1.2-2.0 µmol C g?¹ fw h?¹ respectively. The percentage of light independent carbon fixation (in relation to light ¹?C-fixation) also increased from the basal to the distal parts reaching 24% in the distal region of the thallus. he contents of Chl a and Chl c, were close to 0.37 and 0.14 mg g?¹ fw respectively and were notably uniform along the lamina. The results indicate that the formation of the blade by a basal meristem and the increase of light carbon fixation rates from base to the distal regions in A. mirabilis are similar compared with certain Laminariales, especially members of the genus Laminaria. However, light independent carbon fixation is highest in the meristem of Laminaria, opposite to the results obtained here for A. mirabilis |
|
