Article
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

Studies on the Tropical Agarophyte Gracilaria cornea J. Agardh (Rhodophyta, Gracilariales) from Yucatán, Mexico. I. Seasonal Physiological and Biochemical Responses

  • , and
Published/Copyright: June 1, 2005
Botanica Marina
From the journal Volume 45 Issue 5

Abstract

Photosynthetic performance, photosynthetic pigments, carbohydrate and protein content were measured monthly in Gracilaria cornea collected over 1 year in Yucatán, Mexico. The algae showed a marked seasonality in photosynthetic capacity and biochemical constituents. The photosynthetic rates (4 to 11 mg O2 g d wt−1 h−1) were higher during the cold (November–February) and dry (March–June) seasons compared to the wet (June–October) season. Compensation and saturation irradiances were low (17–37 and 72–155 μmol photons m−2 s−1). Thus, although the populations occurred in shallow (2–4 m) water, the low light acclimation reflects the effect of high turbidity, sedimentation on the branches, and low irradiance values that were continuously recorded (1.97 to 8.85 mol photons m−2 d−1) throughout the year. The low concentrations of chlorophyll a (0.25 to 0.49 mg g d wt−1) and phycoerythrin (0.03 to 0.25 mg g d wt−1) reflect the oligotrophic waters as shown by concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (9.1 μmol L−1) and dissolved reactive phosphate (0.5 μmol L−1). Total soluble carbohydrate levels increased from July to October reaching 56% (dry weight basis) coinciding with high water temperatures. Protein levels ranged from 5.1% in February to 3.0% (dry weight basis) in August with no significant differences between months. Thus, the growth period for Gracilaria cornea appears to be temperature limited, occurring mainly during the dry seasons.

:
Published Online: 2005-06-01
Published in Print: 2002-09-03

Copyright © 2002 by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG

Articles in the same Issue

  1. A Checklist of the Seaweeds of the Mediterranean and Atlantic Coasts of Morocco. III. Rhodophyceae (Excluding Ceramiales)
  2. Twenty Marine Benthic Algae New to South Africa, with Emphasis on the Flora of Kwazulu-Natal
  3. Taxonomic Implications of the Chemical Structures of Galactans from Two Species of the Genus Trematocarpus
  4. Deep-Sea Farming of Kappaphycus Using the Multiple Raft, Long-Line Method
  5. Alginate Content of Farmed Undaria pinnatifida (Harvey) Suringar from the Three Bays of Iwate, Japan during Harvest Period
  6. Studies on the Tropical Agarophyte Gracilaria cornea J. Agardh (Rhodophyta, Gracilariales) from Yucatán, Mexico. I. Seasonal Physiological and Biochemical Responses
  7. Studies on the Tropical Agarophyte Gracilaria cornea J. Agardh (Rhodophyta, Gracilariales) from Yucatán, Mexico. II. Biomass Assessment and Reproductive Phenology
  8. Red Algae (Rhodophyta) from Bahía de Los ángeles, Gulf of California, Mexico
  9. Quantitative Photoperiodic Control of Erect Thallus Production in Sargassum muticum
  10. Morphological Variation of Codium fragile (Chlorophyta) in Eastern Canada
  11. Effect of a Seaweed Extract on the Productivity of 'de Nules' Clementine Mandarin and Navelina Orange
  12. Meetings
https://doi.org/10.1515/BOT.2002.046

Articles in the same Issue

  1. A Checklist of the Seaweeds of the Mediterranean and Atlantic Coasts of Morocco. III. Rhodophyceae (Excluding Ceramiales)
  2. Twenty Marine Benthic Algae New to South Africa, with Emphasis on the Flora of Kwazulu-Natal
  3. Taxonomic Implications of the Chemical Structures of Galactans from Two Species of the Genus Trematocarpus
  4. Deep-Sea Farming of Kappaphycus Using the Multiple Raft, Long-Line Method
  5. Alginate Content of Farmed Undaria pinnatifida (Harvey) Suringar from the Three Bays of Iwate, Japan during Harvest Period
  6. Studies on the Tropical Agarophyte Gracilaria cornea J. Agardh (Rhodophyta, Gracilariales) from Yucatán, Mexico. I. Seasonal Physiological and Biochemical Responses
  7. Studies on the Tropical Agarophyte Gracilaria cornea J. Agardh (Rhodophyta, Gracilariales) from Yucatán, Mexico. II. Biomass Assessment and Reproductive Phenology
  8. Red Algae (Rhodophyta) from Bahía de Los ángeles, Gulf of California, Mexico
  9. Quantitative Photoperiodic Control of Erect Thallus Production in Sargassum muticum
  10. Morphological Variation of Codium fragile (Chlorophyta) in Eastern Canada
  11. Effect of a Seaweed Extract on the Productivity of 'de Nules' Clementine Mandarin and Navelina Orange
  12. Meetings
Downloaded on 9.4.2026 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/BOT.2002.046/html
Scroll to top button