Physiological performance of three calcifying green macroalgae Halimeda species in response to altered seawater temperatures

The effects of seawater temperature on the physiological performance of three Halimeda species were studied for a period of 28 d.Five treatments were established for Halimeda cylindracea,Halimeda opuntia and Halimeda lacunalis,in triplicate aquaria representing a factorial temperature with 24°C,28°C,32°C,34°C and 36°C,respectively.The average Fv/Fm of these species ranged from 0.732 to 0.756 between 24°C and 32°C but declined sharply between 34°C(0.457±0.035)and 36°C(0.122±0.014).Calcification was highest at 28°C,with net calcification rates(Gnet)of(20.082±2.482)mg/(g·d),(12.825±1.623)mg/(g·d)and(6.411±1.029)mg/(g·d)for H.cylindracea,H.opuntia and H.lacunalis,respectively.Between 24°C and 32°C,the specific growth rate(SGR)of H.lacunalis(0.079%–0.110%d–1)was lower than that of H.cylindracea(0.652%–1.644%d–1)and H.opuntia(0.360%–1.527%d–1).Three Halimeda species gradually bleached at 36°C during the study period.Malondialdehyde(MDA)and proline levels in tissues of the three Halimeda were higher in 34–36°C than those in 24–32°C.The results indicate that seawater temperature with range of 24–32°C could benefit the growth and calcification of these Halimeda species,however,extreme temperatures above 34°C have negative impacts.The measured physiological parameters also revealed that H.cylindracea and H.opuntia displayed broader temperature tolerance than H.lacunalis.

Detail description of Lithophyllum okamurae(Lithophylloideae,Corallinales), a widely distributed crustose coralline alga in marine ecosystems

Lithophyllum okamurae is one of the important encrusting coralline algae,which plays important roles as primary producer,carbonate sediment builder,and habitat provider in the marine ecosystems.In this study,L.okamurae was collected from tropical coast of Sanya,and firstly described based on both detailed morph-anatomical characteristics and molecular studies of typic DNA sequences.The structure of the thalli of L.okamurae was pseudoparenchymatous construction with radially organized dimerous organizations in the crustose portion.The pseudoparenchymatous construction were composed of three parts,including 1 to 3 layers of epithelia cells which had flatten to round outermost walls,one layer of square or rectangular cells of the hypothallia and multiple layers of square or elongated rectangular peripheral cells.Palisade cells were observed,and the cells of the contiguous vegetative filaments were connected by secondary pit-connections with cell fusions absent.The carposporangial conceptacles,the spermatangial conceptacles,the bisporangial conceptacles and the tetrasporangial conceptacles were observed,and all these four kinds of conceptacles were uniporate.The spermatangial conceptacles were slightly convex and buried at shallow depths in the thalli tissues,and the carposporangial conceptacles and asexual conceptacles were protruding and conical.Phylogenetic studies based on DNA barcoding markers of 18 S rDNA,COI,rbc L and psb A revealed that L.okamurae clustered with the closest relation of L.atlanticum,and formed a distinct branch.Based on the comparative anatomical features and the molecular data,the detailed description of the valid species of L.okamurae was firstly given in this study to provide theoretical basis for algae resources utilization and conservation in marine ecosystems.

Increased light availability enhances tolerance against ocean acidification-related stress in the calcifying macroalga Halimedaopuntia

Although the adverse impacts of ocean acidification(OA)on marine calcifiers have been investigated extensively,the anti-stress capabilities regulated by increased light availability are unclear.Herein,the interactive effects of three light levels(30μmol photons/(m^(2)·s),150μmol photons/(m^(2)·s),and 240μmol photons/(m^(2)·s)combined with two pCO_(2)concentrations(400 ppmv and 1400 ppmv)on the physiological acclimation of the calcifying macroalga Halimeda opuntia were investigated using a pCO_(2)-light coupling experiment.The OA negatively influenced algal growth,calcification,photosynthesis,and other physiological performances in H.opuntia.The relative growth rate under elevated pCO_(2)conditions significantly declined by 13.14%−41.29%,whereas net calcification rates decreased by nearly three-fold under OA conditions.Notably,increased light availability enhanced stress resistance through the accumulation of soluble organic molecules,especially soluble carbohydrate,soluble protein,and free amino acids,and in combination with metabolic enzyme-driven activities,OA stress was alleviated.The carotenoid content under low light conditions increased markedly,and the rapid light curve of the relative electron transport rate was enhanced significantly by increasing light intensities,indicating that this new organization of the photosynthetic machinery in H.opuntia accommodated light variations and elevated pCO_(2)conditions.Thus,the enhanced metabolic performance of the calcifying macroalga H.opuntia mitigated OA-related stress.