Photoadaptation in marine phytoplankton: changes in spectral absorption and excitation of chlorophyll a fluorescence

Journal Article · Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1984 · Plant Physiol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.76.2.518· OSTI ID:6098531

Neori, A; Holm-Hansen, O; Mitchell, B G; Kiefer, D A

The optical properties of marine phytoplankton were examined by measuring the absorption spectra and fluorescence excitation spectra of chlorophyll a for natural marine particles collected on glass fiber filters. Samples were collected at different depths from stations in temperate waters of the Southern California Bight and in polar waters of the Scotia and Ross Seas. At all stations, phytoplankton fluorescence excitation and absorption spectra changed systematically with depth and vertical stability of the water columns. In samples from deeper waters, both absorption and chlorophyll a fluorescence excitation spectra showed enhancement in the blue-to-green portion of the spectrum (470-560 nm) relative to that at 440 nm. Since similar changes in absorption and excitation were induced by incubating sea water samples at different light intensities, the changes in optical properties can be attributed to photoadaptation of the phytoplankton. The data indicate that in the natural populations studied, shade adaptation caused increases in the concentration of photosynthetic accessory pigments relative to chlorophyll a. These changes in cellular pigment composition were detectable within less than 1 day. Comparisons of absorption spectra with fluorescence excitation spectra indicate an apparent increase in the efficiency of sensitization of chlorophyll a fluorescence in the blue and green spectral regions for low light populations. 30 references, 6 figures.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, La Jolla
• DOE Contract Number: AM03-76SF00010
• OSTI ID: 6098531
• Journal Information: Plant Physiol.; (United States), Vol. 76:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CHLOROPHYLL
ABSORPTION SPECTRA
FLUORESCENCE
PHYTOPLANKTON
BIOLOGICAL ADAPTATION
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHOTOSENSITIVITY
ANTARCTICA
CALIFORNIA
COASTAL WATERS
DEPTH
SAMPLING
SEAS
SEAWATER
VISIBLE RADIATION
ANTARCTIC REGIONS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
DIMENSIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FEDERAL REGION IX
HETEROCYCLIC ACIDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LUMINESCENCE
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PHYTOCHROMES
PIGMENTS
PLANKTON
POLAR REGIONS
PORPHYRINS
RADIATIONS
SENSITIVITY
SPECTRA
SURFACE WATERS
USA
WATER
520100* - Environment
Aquatic- Basic Studies- (-1989)