Response of the green alga Ulva prolifera grown at different irradiance levels under ocean acidification at different life cycle stages

Jing Ma; Wen Wang; Jun-Yang Cao; Tian-Peng Xu; Cheng Chen; Jun-Tian Xu

doi:10.1515/bot-2022-0019

Article

Response of the green alga Ulva prolifera grown at different irradiance levels under ocean acidification at different life cycle stages

Jing Ma

Jing Ma obtained her PhD from Nanjing Normal University and is currently a teacher at Jiangsu Ocean University. She is mainly engaged in the research on the effect of changes in marine environmental conditions on algal physiology and ecology.
, Wen Wang

Wen Wang obtained her Master’s degree from Jiangsu Ocean University studying under the supervision of professor Jing Ma. Currently, she is pursuing a PhD at Shanghai Ocean University.
, Jun-Yang Cao

Jun-Yang Cao is an undergraduate at Jiangsu Ocean University studying biotechnology.
, Tian-Peng Xu , Cheng Chen and Jun-Tian Xu

Jun-Tian Xu obtained his PhD degrees from Shantou University in 2008. Prof. Xu studies the effect of changes in marine environmental conditions on algal physiology and ecology.

Published/Copyright: September 23, 2022

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From the journal Botanica Marina Volume 65 Issue 5

Abstract

The effects of ocean acidification on macroalgae have been extensively studied. However, most studies focused on the adult stages, while other life cycle stages have been overlooked. To better understand the influence of the marine environment on macroalgae, their whole life cycle should be considered, especially the juvenile stage. In this study, Ulva prolifera was cultured under two CO₂ concentrations (400 and 1000 ppmv) and at 10, 18, 30, and 55% of incident sunlight to assess the photosynthetic performance. Our results showed that the acidification treatment had a negative effect on growth at the juvenile stage, but a positive effect at the adult stage. The relative growth rate and effective quantum yield of PSII increased with decreased light levels, irrespective of the CO₂ concentration. At the adult stage, the Chlorophyll (Chl) a, Chl b, and carotenoid contents declined under the high CO₂ concentration. The protein content significantly increased at 18, 30%, and full sunlight levels under the high CO₂ but not under the low CO₂ concentration. Our results suggest that juveniles were less tolerant of the acidic stress compared with the adult stage, although the alga was able to increase cellular proteins in response to the acidic stress.

Keywords: irradiance; life cycle stages; ocean acidification; Ulva prolifera

Corresponding author: Jun-Tian Xu, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China; Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-industry Technology, Lianyungang 222005, China; and Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China, E-mail: jtxu@jou.edu.cn

Funding source: Chinese National Natural Science Foundation

Award Identifier / Grant number: 4210060094

About the authors

Jing Ma

Jing Ma obtained her PhD from Nanjing Normal University and is currently a teacher at Jiangsu Ocean University. She is mainly engaged in the research on the effect of changes in marine environmental conditions on algal physiology and ecology.

Wen Wang

Wen Wang obtained her Master’s degree from Jiangsu Ocean University studying under the supervision of professor Jing Ma. Currently, she is pursuing a PhD at Shanghai Ocean University.

Jun-Yang Cao

Jun-Yang Cao is an undergraduate at Jiangsu Ocean University studying biotechnology.

Jun-Tian Xu

Jun-Tian Xu obtained his PhD degrees from Shantou University in 2008. Prof. Xu studies the effect of changes in marine environmental conditions on algal physiology and ecology.

Author contributions: All authors accept responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission of the final version.
Research funding: This study was supported by the Chinese National Natural Science Foundation (no. 42106089), the special fund for Natural Resources Development (Innovation Project of Marine Science and Technology) of Jiangsu Province (nos. JSZRHYKJ202001, JSZRHYKJ202112, and JSZRHYKJ202107), the China Agriculture Research System (no. CARS50), the Modern Fisheries Industrial Research System of Jiangsu Province (no. JFRS-04), the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (no. 2019M651431), the Postdoctoral Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (no. 2018K150C), the Postdoctoral Science Foundation of Lianyungang, the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions and Postgraduate Research & Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province (no. KYCX20_2889), Jiangsu Qinglan, and Lianyungang 521 Talent Projects.
Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest regarding this article.

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Received: 2022-03-18

Accepted: 2022-08-23

Published Online: 2022-09-23

Published in Print: 2022-10-26

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/bot-2022-0019

Keywords for this article

irradiance; life cycle stages; ocean acidification; Ulva prolifera