Physiological responses of polar benthic algae to ultraviolet radiation
-
Ulf Karsten
Abstract
Stratospheric ozone depletion and the concomitant increase in ultraviolet (UV) B radiation at the earth's surface represent major threats to polar marine ecosystems. Whereas in coastal rocky shore environments macroalgae constitute an assemblage of particular significance to ecosystem function, benthic diatoms dominate microphytobenthic assemblages, which typically grow on shallow-water sediments as highly productive and stabilising phototrophic biofilms. This review summarises present knowledge on how UV radiation affects the physiology of polar benthic algae with an emphasis on cell biological and structural changes, molecular targets and repair mechanisms, induction of reactive oxygen species and antioxidative strategies, photosynthesis and growth, photoprotective mechanisms, interactive effects between UV radiation and other abiotic factors, and finally ecological consequences. Although available data indicate that there are specific characteristics and adaptations in polar benthic micro- and macroalgae that explain their ecological success and limits under environmentally extreme conditions, much more research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms. In particular, more ecosystem approaches and studies on interactive effects, as well as modern genomic, proteomic and metabolomic approaches could help address all open questions and depict a more holistic picture.
©2009 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Guest introduction
- Biology of polar benthic algae
- Environment, biogeography and biodiversity
- The abiotic environment of polar marine benthic algae
- Biodiversity, biogeography and zonation of marine benthic micro- and macroalgae in the Arctic and Antarctic
- Notes on the systematics and biogeographical relationships of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic Rhodophyta with descriptions of four new genera and five new species
- Chemical ecology
- Defenses of polar macroalgae against herbivores and biofoulers
- Field studies on deterrent properties of phlorotannins in Antarctic brown algae
- Primary production and ecophysiology
- Benthic microalgal production in the Arctic: applied methods and status of the current database
- Microphytobenthic biomass along gradients of physical conditions in Arctic Kongsfjorden, Svalbard
- Phenology and seasonal physiological performance of polar seaweeds
- Light and temperature demands of marine benthic microalgae and seaweeds in polar regions
- Freezing tolerance and photosynthetic performance of polar seaweeds at low temperatures
- Polar benthic algae in a changing world
- Impact of oceanic warming on the distribution of seaweeds in polar and cold-temperate waters
- Physiological responses of polar benthic algae to ultraviolet radiation
- Drivers of colonization and succession in polar benthic macro- and microalgal communities
- Conclusion and outlook
- Future perspectives on the investigation of polar benthic algae
- Meetings
- Meetings
- Reviewer acknowledgement Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
- Reviewer acknowledgement Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
- Contents index Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
- Contents index Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
- Author index Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
- Author index Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
- Genus/Species index Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
- Genus/Species index Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Guest introduction
- Biology of polar benthic algae
- Environment, biogeography and biodiversity
- The abiotic environment of polar marine benthic algae
- Biodiversity, biogeography and zonation of marine benthic micro- and macroalgae in the Arctic and Antarctic
- Notes on the systematics and biogeographical relationships of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic Rhodophyta with descriptions of four new genera and five new species
- Chemical ecology
- Defenses of polar macroalgae against herbivores and biofoulers
- Field studies on deterrent properties of phlorotannins in Antarctic brown algae
- Primary production and ecophysiology
- Benthic microalgal production in the Arctic: applied methods and status of the current database
- Microphytobenthic biomass along gradients of physical conditions in Arctic Kongsfjorden, Svalbard
- Phenology and seasonal physiological performance of polar seaweeds
- Light and temperature demands of marine benthic microalgae and seaweeds in polar regions
- Freezing tolerance and photosynthetic performance of polar seaweeds at low temperatures
- Polar benthic algae in a changing world
- Impact of oceanic warming on the distribution of seaweeds in polar and cold-temperate waters
- Physiological responses of polar benthic algae to ultraviolet radiation
- Drivers of colonization and succession in polar benthic macro- and microalgal communities
- Conclusion and outlook
- Future perspectives on the investigation of polar benthic algae
- Meetings
- Meetings
- Reviewer acknowledgement Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
- Reviewer acknowledgement Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
- Contents index Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
- Contents index Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
- Author index Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
- Author index Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
- Genus/Species index Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
- Genus/Species index Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
