Slobodanka Stojkovic

Using marine macroalgae for carbon sequestration: a critical appraisal

There has been a good deal of interest in the potential of marine vegetation as a sink for anthropogenic C emissions (“Blue Carbon”). Marine primary producers contribute at least 50% of the world’s carbon fixation and may account for as much as 71% of all carbon storage. In this paper, we analyse the current rate of harvesting of both commercially grown and wild-grown macroalgae, as well as their capacity for photosynthetically driven CO2 assimilation and growth. We suggest that CO2 acquisition by marine macroalgae can represent a considerable sink for anthropogenic CO2 emissions and that harvesting and appropriate use of macroalgal primary production could play a significant role in C sequestration and amelioration of greenhouse gas emissions.

Effects of UV-B radiation on inorganic carbon acquisition by the marine microalga Dunaliella tertiolecta (Chlorophyceae)

Abstract The chlorophyte alga Dunaliella tertiolecta was exposed to UV-B radiation (UVBR) and the characteristics of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC)-dependent oxygen evolution, carbon fixation and CO2-concentrating mechanism (CCM) activity were examined. Exposure response measurements were carried out under 2.8 W m−2 UVBR (unweighted), and the maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (PSII), ΦPSII-max, was monitored until cell suspensions were ~ 50% inhibited. Under these conditions, although photosystem II (PSII) activity was severely inhibited, photosystem I capacity decreased by only < l5%. UVBR-treated cells exposed to H14CO3− took up the same amount of label as did untreated cells, though the proportion fixed into organic matter decreased under UVBR and the internal DIC pool increased. The increase in internal DIC pools was paralleled by an increase in conductance for DIC, measured as the increase in the initial slope of oxygen evolution vs [DIC] plots. Thus, although carbon assimilation rates are inhibited by UVBR, CCM activity is unaffected. The ecological significance of these findings is discussed.

Photosynthetic characteristics of two Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii strains differing in their toxicity

We studied the growth and photosynthetic characteristics of a toxic (CS506) and a nontoxic strain (CS509) of the bloom‐forming cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii grown under identical experimental conditions. When exposed to light‐saturating growth conditions (100 μmol photons · m−2 · s−1), values for maximal photosynthetic capacity (Pmax) and maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm) indicated that both strains had an equal ability to process captured photons and deliver them to PSII reaction centers. However, CS506 grew faster than CS509. This was consistent with its higher light requirement for saturation of photosynthesis (Ik). Greater shade tolerance of CS509 was indicated by its higher ability to harvest light (α), lower photosynthetic light compensation point (Ic), and higher chlorophyll a to biovolume ratio. Strain‐specific differences were found in relation to non‐photochemical quenching, effective absorption cross‐sectional area of PSIIα‐centers (σPSIIα), and the antenna connectivity parameter of PSIIα (JconPSIIα). These findings highlighted differences in the transfer of excitation from phycobilisome/PSII to PSI, on the dependence on different pigments for light harvesting and on the functioning of the PSII reaction centers between the two strains. The results of this study showed that both performance and composition of the photosynthetic apparatus are different between these strains, though with only two strains examined we cannot attribute the performance of strain 506 to its ability to produce cylindrospermopsins. The emphasis on a strain‐specific light adaptation/acclimation is crucial to our understanding of how different light conditions (both quantity and quality) can trigger the occurrence of different C. raciborskii strains and control their competition and/or dominance in natural ecosystems.

Inorganic carbon acquisition by eight species ofCaulerpa (Caulerpaceae, Chlorophyta)

K. Kevekordes, D. Holland, N. Haubner, S. Jenkins, R. Koss, S. Roberts, J.A. Raven, C.M. Scrimgeour, K. Shelly, S. Stojkovic and J. Beardall. Inorganic carbon acquisition by eight species of Caulerpa (Caulerpaceae, Chlorophyta).Phycologia 45: 442–449. DOI: 10.2216/05-55.1. This investigation examines the occurrence of carbon concentrating mechanisms (CCMs) in eight species of the acellular green marine macroalgal genus Caulerpa. The measurements made were of the δ13C of organic matter, extracellular carbonic anhydrase activities, pH compensation values, and the inorganic C dependence of light-saturated photosynthesis rates. The data suggest that the pyrenoid-containing C. cactoides and C. geminata, and probably C. scalpelliformis (which lacks pyrenoids) have CCMs. Net diffusive influx of CO2 fulfills the inorganic carbon requirements of the other species for which pH-drift data are available, i.e. C. flexilis, C. longifolia, C. obscura and C. brownii. No pH drift data are available for C. trifaria and no information is available as to whether it has pyrenoids, although δ13C data suggest the absence of a CCM in this species. The three species showing evidence of CCMs have the lowest affinities for inorganic C of the eight species tested. This apparently paradoxical finding has precedence for marine red-macroalgae, and requires that the selective significance of the CCMs in these organisms is not that of increased inorganic C affinity, but is perhaps associated with the ability to both suppress photoinhibition and to photosynthesize at higher seawater pH values.

INTERCOLONIAL VARIABILITY IN MACROMOLECULAR COMPOSITION IN P-STARVED AND P-REPLETE SCENEDESMUS POPULATIONS REVEALED BY INFRARED MICROSPECTROSCOPY(1).

Macromolecular variability in microalgal populations subject to different nutrient environments was investigated, using the chlorophyte alga Scenedesmus quadricauda (Turpin) Bréb. as a model organism. The large size of the four‐cell coenobia in the strain used in this study (∼35u2003μm diameter) conveniently allowed high quality spectra to be obtained from individual coenobia using a laboratory‐based Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microscope with a conventional globar source of IR. By drawing sizable subpopulations of coenobia from two Scenedesmus cultures grown under either nutrient‐replete or P‐starved conditions, the population variability in macromolecular composition, and the effects of nutrient change upon this, could be estimated. On average, P‐starved coenobia had higher carbohydrate and lower protein absorbance compared with P‐replete coenobia. These parameters varied between coenobia with histograms of the ratio of absorbance of the largest protein and carbohydrate bands being Gaussian distributed. Distributions for the P‐replete and P‐starved subpopulations were nonoverlapping, with the difference in mean ratios for the two populations being statistically significant. Greater variance was observed in the P‐starved subpopulation. In addition, multivariate models were developed using the spectral data, which could accurately predict the nutrient status of an independent individual coenobium, based on its FTIR spectrum. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS‐DA) was a better prediction method compared with soft independent modeling by class analogy (SIMCA).

CO2-concentrating mechanisms in three southern hemisphere strains of Emiliania huxleyi

Rising global CO2 is changing the carbonate chemistry of seawater, which is expected to influence the way phytoplankton acquire inorganic carbon. All phytoplankton rely on ribulose‐bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase (RUBISCO) for assimilation of inorganic carbon in photosynthesis, but this enzyme is inefficient at present day CO2 levels. Many algae have developed a range of energy demanding mechanisms, referred to as carbon concentrating mechanisms (CCMs), which increase the efficiency of carbon acquisition. We investigated CCM activity in three southern hemisphere strains of the coccolithophorid Emiliania huxleyi W. W. Hay & H. P. Mohler. Both calcifying and non‐calcifying strains showed strong CCM activity, with HCO3− as a preferred source of photosynthetic carbon in the non‐calcifying strain, but a higher preference for CO2 in the calcifying strains. All three strains were characterized by the presence of pyrenoids, external carbonic anhydrase (CA) and high affinity for CO2 in photosynthesis, indicative of active CCMs. We postulate that under higher CO2 levels cocco‐lithophorids will be able to down‐regulate their CCMs, and re‐direct some of the metabolic energy to processes such as calcification. Due to the expected rise in CO2 levels, photosynthesis in calcifying strains is expected to benefit most, due to their use of CO2 for carbon uptake. The non‐calcifying strain, on the other hand, will experience only a 10% increase in HCO3−, thus making it less responsive to changes in carbonate chemistry of water.

The impacts of a high CO2 environment on a bicarbonate user: The cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii

The potentially toxic cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii (Wołoszyńska) Seenya et Subba Raju, originally described as a tropical-subtropical species, is increasingly found in temperate regions and its range is expanding. Climate change is hypothesised to be a factor in this expansion. We studied the effects of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and pH on growth and photosynthesis of this species. We prepared six treatments in a continuous culture (turbidostat) grown at high light, two at low light, and eight in batch cultures grown under low light, by manipulating pH, HCO(3)(-) and CO(2) to assess the effect, if any, of these parameters on the growth rate, inorganic carbon acquisition and photosynthetic parameters of C. raciborskii. When the turbidostats were grown at 100 μmol photons (PAR) m(-2) s(-1), HCO(3)(-) concentration and pH had a positive effect on growth rate; the specific growth rate in 6 mM HCO(3)(-), for example, was twice what it was in 0.6 mM HCO(3)(-) (0.84 ± 0.10 and 0.44 ± 0.04 d(-1) respectively). Growth was lower in turbidostats grown at 20 μmol photons (PAR) m(-2) s(-1). Isotope disequilibrium experiments showed that the contribution of HCO(3)(-) to DIC acquisition is proportionately greater at the higher light. The maximum relative electron transport rate (rETR(max)) was significantly higher at the higher light, while the slope of the linear portion of the rETR(max) versus irradiance curve (α) was unchanged. In low light batch cultures, increasing HCO(3)(-) concentration and pH had a negative effect on growth, while CO(2) concentration had a small, positive effect. This species of cyanobacterium has an efficient CCM and under ideal growing conditions gets most of its carbon from HCO(3)(-). It may, therefore, be at a competitive disadvantage in a high CO(2) world.

Fluorescence microscopy reveals variations in cellular composition during formation of akinetes in the cyanobacterium Aphanizomenon ovalisporum

Akinetes are differentiated, thick-walled, resting cells produced by many species of the filamentous heterocystous cyanobacteria belonging to the Nostocales and Stigonematales. They are commonly developed after the end of exponential growth and are normally resistant to low temperatures and to desiccation for extended periods. Akinetes maintain a low level of metabolic activities such as photosynthesis, respiration and de novo synthesis of proteins and lipids. In a previous study we reported that mature akinetes of Aphanizomenon ovalisporum maintained only residual photosynthetic activity. However the cellular abundance of PSI and PSII reaction centres increased in akinetes relative to exponentially grown vegetative cells while the ratio of PSI to PSII remained relatively unchanged. In the present study we provide spectral and biochemical evidence that akinetes lose their phycobilisomes during their development. DAPI stained trichomes of exponentially grown cultures emitted fluorescence signals attributed to nucleic acids and polyphosphate granules. Akinetes that developed in akinete-induced cultures were preferentially enriched with nucleic acids and deprived of polyphosphate bodies, whereas adjacent vegetative cells were loaded with polyphosphate bodies. Examination of akinetes from akinete-induced cultures of A. ovalisporum by spectral confocal laser scanning microscopy indicated reduction of the phycobilisome fluorescence signal. Mature isolated akinetes could be divided into two distinct populations: (i) a majority of akinetes that lost their phycobilisome fluorescence signal, but maintain chlorophyll fluorescence attributed to the reaction centres, and (ii) a minor group of mature akinetes that maintained a high phycobilisome fluorescence signal.

CO2 acquisition in Chlamydomonas acidophila is influenced mainly by CO2, not phosphorus, availability

The extremophilic green microalga Chlamydomonas acidophila grows in very acidic waters (pH 2.3–3.4), where CO2 is the sole inorganic carbon source. Previous work has revealed that the species can accumulate inorganic carbon (Ci) and exhibits high affinity CO2 utilization under low-CO2 (air-equilibrium) conditions, similar to organisms with an active CO2 concentrating mechanism (CCM), whereas both processes are down-regulated under high CO2 (4.5xa0% CO2) conditions. Responses of this species to phosphorus (Pi)-limited conditions suggested a contrasting regulation of the CCM characteristics. Therefore, we measured external carbonic anhydrase (CAext) activities and protein expression (CAH1), the internal pH, Ci accumulation, and CO2-utilization in cells adapted to high or low CO2 under Pi-replete and Pi-limited conditions. Results reveal that C. acidophila expressed CAext activity and expressed a protein cross-reacting with CAH1 (the CAext from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii). Although the function of this CA remains unclear, CAext activity and high affinity CO2 utilization were the highest under low CO2 conditions. C. acidophila accumulated Ci and expressed the CAH1 protein under all conditions tested, and C. reinhardtii also contained substantial amounts of CAH1 protein under Pi-limitation. In conclusion, Ci utilization is optimized in C. acidophila under ecologically relevant conditions, which may enable optimal survival in its extreme Ci- and Pi-limited habitat. The exact physiological and biochemical acclimation remains to be further studied.