Kateřina Skácelová

Effect of dehydration on spectral reflectance and photosynthetic efficiency in Umbilicaria arctica and U. hyperborea

In many polar and alpine ecosystems, lichens of genus Umbilicaria represent dominant species forming community structure. Photosynthetic and spectral properties of the lichens may change rapidly according to an actual hydration status of their thalli. In this study, we investigated responses of photochemical reflectance index (PRI), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), effective quantum yield of photosynthetic efficiency of photosystem (PS) II (ΦPSII), and several photosynthetic parameters derived from fast induction kinetics of chlorophyll fluorescence (OJIP) to controlled dehydration. We used U. arctica and U. hyperborea collected close to Nuuk, Greenland. In both the species, PRI showed a curvilinear increase with dehydration, i.e., a decreasing water potential (Ψw). The increase was apparent within Ψw range of 0 to −10 MPa. The PRI increase was less pronounced in U. arctica than in U. hyperborea. NDVI decreased with a progressive thallus dehydration in both the species, however, throughout Ψw range of 0 to −30 MPa, U. hyperborea had lower NDVI values than U. arctica. The relationship between ΦPSII and Ψw resulted in a typical S curve. A critical Ψw at which photosynthetic processes were fully inhibited was −30 MPa in both the species, however, species-specific differences in the S curve shape were found. Analyses of photosynthetic parameters derived from OJIPs revealed that the absorption of radiation energy and a trapping rate increased with dehydration in active reaction centres of PS II, the number of which decreased with a more pronounced lichen thallus dehydration. It is concluded that U. arctica and U. hyperborea possess effective physiological mechanisms to maintain an effective photosynthesis when partly dehydrated (the Ψw range of 0 to −15 MPa). In spite of similar ecological niches that these two lichens occupy in nature, their spectral and photosynthetic properties differred.

Sensitivity of Antarctic freshwater algae to salt stress assessed by fast chlorophyll fluorescence transient.

In this study, we investigated the effects of salt stress (2 mM NaCl) on excitation energy transfer from light harvesting complexes to photosystem II (PS II) in two Antarctic algal species: Klebsormidium sp. and Zygnema sp. Short-term salt stress led to a significant changes in the shape of chlorophyll fluorescence transient (OJIP). Analyses of the polyphasic fluorescence transients (OJIP) showed that the fluorescence yield at the phases J, I and P declined considerably with the time of exposition to salt stress. In both experimental species, OJIP transients reached lowest values of chlorophyll fluorescence signal after 30/60 min. of NaCl exposition. Then, OJIP shape and chlorophyll fluo- rescence showed species-specific recovery and rised towards original values (about 2/3 of untreated control). Analyses of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters derived from OJIPs showed that salt stress led to a decrease in the maximal efficiency of PS II photo- chemistry (FV/FM) in Zygnema sp. but not Klebsormidium sp. The results indicated that the probability of excitation energy transfer before and beyond QA, and the yield of electron transport beyond QA is limited by salt-induced stress in Zygnema sp. In addition, salt stress resulted in a decrease in the photosynthetic electron transport per PS II reaction center, but both increase and decrease in the trapping per PS II reaction center was found. Performace index (PIabs) was affected negatively in Zygnema sp. but possitively Klebsormidium sp. indicating that the latter species was more resistant to salt stress than Zygnema sp.

Biodiversity of freshwater algae and cyanobacteria on deglaciated northern part of James Ross Island, Antarctica. A preliminary study

Freshwater algae and cyanobacteria have been studied at the James Ross Island (Ant- arctica) since the first Czech expedition to the James Ross Island area in austral summer of 2004. Main emphasis, however, has been devoted to cyanobacteria and diatoms. Therefore, recent knowledge on biodiversity of freshwater species of green algae is fragmentary. The main aim of presented study was to contribute to species list of green algae and cyanobacteria from James Ross Island. To evaluate species richness of algae and cyanobacteria, samples of water/mats from 6 different lakes, shallow ponds, and seepages located in northern deglaciated part of the James Ross Island were collected in austral summers 2012 and 2013, respectively. The samples were analysed using optical microscopy approach after transport to Czech laboratories. Algal and cyanobacterial taxa were determined according to morphological characteristics. Frequencies of individual taxa occurrence in samples were evaluated. Species richness differences between sampling sites was found. Dominating taxa differed between collection sites as well. Altogether, 41 algal and cyanobacterial taxa were found. Some species and genera: Cosmarium sp., Actinotaenium curtum, Staurastrum punctulatum and Chlorobotrys regularis are reported for James Ross Island for the first time. In some samples, there were some species that remained undetermined due to limitations of light microscopy and morphological approach.

Effects of controlled oxidative stress and uncouplers on primary photosynthetic processes in vegetative cells of Antarctic alga Zygnema sp.

In our study, we present responses of Antarctic strain of filamentous alga Zygnema sp. collected at James Ross Island (Antarctica) to application of variuos uncouplers of pri-mary photosynthetic processes. We exposed the alga to different concentrations of nigericin, 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU), dithiothreitol (DTT), methyl viologen (MV) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in order to test stability of photosystem II, involvement of non-photochemical quenching, and PS II functioning under combination of moderate light with particular uncoupler. Oxidative stress tolerance was tested by the combination of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and moderate light. Time courses of FV/FM, FPSII, NPQ and qF0 were investigated and particular effects of the above-specified chem-icals discussed. Moderate doses of uncouplers allowing partial recovery, and the doses causing full inhibition of PS II were specified.

Nitrate and ammonium ions contents in field minibioreactors with Antarctic freshwater autotrophs

The content of nitrate and ammonium ions in aquatic environment is an important factor in the development of microorganisms colonies especially in low-nutrient environment. In this study, field experiments using small-volume minibioreactors were performed directly on the James Ross Island in Antarctica in order to describe changes in nitrate and ammonium ions contents in the Antarctic environment The ion concentrations in minibioreactors with local freshwater autotrophs was monitored for increased eutro- phication conditions. The content of nitrogen forms was determined in water samples taken from the minibioreactors regularly. Samples were taken to the laboratory of the Johann Gregor Mendel station where nitrogen content was evaluated using ion-selective electrodes. Furthermore, the freshwater autotrophs was subjected to basic taxonomic study. Closed system of the minibioreactors allowed the monitoring of nitrogen speciation changes which take place in the environment. These changes can be attributed to both the biological activity of microorganisms and external conditions. Increased eutrophication of water did not induce a rapid development of the freshwater autotrophs.