Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Depth-dependent changes in chlorophyll fluorescence number at a Sargasso Sea station

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Chlorophyll a-specific in vivo fluorescence exhibited depth-dependent changes in a Sargasso Sea phytoplankton community, decreasing from a maximum value at the surface to a minimum at 90m, and then increasing again below 90 m. This distribution pattern was not explained by irradiance conditions, diurnal variability, senescence in the deep population, or changes in light-absorption efficiency of chlorophyll a. However, a significant positive correlation was found between mean phytoplankton cell size and fluorescence number in the upper euphotic zone, where nutrient concentrations were low. We hypothesize that the direct cause for this observed correlation was nutrient limitation. In this picoplankton-dominated community, packaging effect was minimal. Under nutrient-limiting conditions, as mean cell size increases photosynthetic efficiency decreases and therefore fluorescence number increases. In the lower euphotic zone where nutrients were not limiting, changes in fluorescence number exhibited weak size-dependence and appeared to be related to species compositional changes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alpine AE, Cloern JE (1985) Differences in in vivo fluorescence yield between three phytoplankton size classes. J Plankton Res 7:381–390

    Google Scholar 

  • Banse K (1976) Rates of growth, respiration and photosynthesis of unicellular algae as related to cell size—a review. J Phycol 12:135–140

    Google Scholar 

  • Bidigare RR, Schofield O, Prezelin BB (1989) Influence of zeaxanthin on quantum yield of photosynthesis of Synechococcus clone WH7803 (DC2) Mar Ecol Prog Ser 56:177–188

    Google Scholar 

  • Chisholm SW, Olson RJ, Zettler ER, Goericke R, Waterbury JB, Welschmeyer NA (1988) A novel free-living prochlorophyte abundant in the oceanic euphotic zone. Nature, Lond 334: 340–343

    Google Scholar 

  • Cloern JE (1987) Turbidity as a control on phytoplankton biomass and productivity in estuaries. Contin Shelf Res 7:1367–1381

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Collins DJ, Kiefer DA, SooHoo JB, McDermid IS (1985) The role of reabsorption in the spectral distribution of phytoplankton fluorescence emission. Deep-Sea Res 32:983–1003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dubinsky Z, Falkowski PG, Wyman K (1986) Light harvesting and utilization by phytoplankton. Pl Cell Physiol, Tokyo 27: 1335–1350

    Google Scholar 

  • Falkowski PG, Greene RM, Geider RJ (1992) Physiological limitations on phytoplankton productivity in the ocean. Oceanography, Wash 5:84–91

    Google Scholar 

  • Falkowski PG, Kiefer DA (1985) Chlorophyll a fluorescence in phytoplankton: relationship to photosynthesis and biomass. J Plankton Res 7:715–731

    Google Scholar 

  • Falkowski PG, Ziemann D, Kolber Z, Bienfang PK (1991) Role of eddy pumping in enhancing primary production in the ocean. Nature, Lond 352:55–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Geider RJ, Platt T, Raven JA (1986) Size dependence of growth and photosynthesis in diatoms: a synthesis. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 30:93–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibbs CF (1979) Chlorophyll b interference in the fluorometric determination of chlorophyll a and ‘phaeopigments’. Aust J mar Freshwat Res 30:587–606

    Google Scholar 

  • Gieskes WW, Kraay GW (1986) Floristic and physiological differences between the shallow and the deep nanophytoplankton community in the euphotic zone of the open tropical Atlantic revealed by HPLC analysis of pigments. Mar Biol 91:567–576

    Google Scholar 

  • Glover HE, Keller MD, Spinrad RW (1987) The effects of light quality and intensity on photosynthesis and growth of marine eukaryotic and prokaryotic phytoplankton clones. J exp mar Biol Ecol 105:137–159

    Google Scholar 

  • Glover HE, Prézelin BB, Campbell L, Wyman M, Garside C (1988) A nitrate-dependent Synechococcus bloom in surface Sargasso Sea water. Nature, Lond 331:161–163

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo C, Dunstan WM (1990) Diel chlorophyll variability at a Sargasso Sea station. Trans Am geophys Un 71:p. 161

    Google Scholar 

  • Heaney SI (1978) Some observations on the use of in vivo fluorescence technique to determine chlorophyll a in natural populations and cultures of freshwater phytoplankton. Freshwat Biol 8:115–126

    Google Scholar 

  • Holm-Hansen O, Lorenzen CJ, Holms RW, Strickland JDH (1965) Fluorometric determination of natural phytoplankton communities. J Cons perm int Explor Mer 30:3–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiefer DA (1973) Fluorescence properties of natural phytoplankton communities. Mar Biol 22:263–269

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiefer DA, Reynolds RA (1992) Advances in understanding phytoplankton fluorescence and photosynthesis. In: Falkowski PG, Woodhead A (eds) Primary productivity and biogeochemical cycles in the sea. Plenum Press, New York, pp 155–174

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirk JTO (1975) A theoretical analysis of the contribution of algal cells to the attenuation of light within natural waters. New Phytol 75:11–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Langdon C (1988) On the causes of interspecific differences in the growth-irradiance relationship for phytoplankton. II. A general review. J Plankton Res 10:1291–1312

    Google Scholar 

  • Legendre L, Demers S (1984) Towards dynamical biological oceanography and limnology. Can J Fish aquat Sciences 41:2–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Loftus ME, Subba-Rao DV, Seliger HH (1972) Growth and dissipation of phytoplankton in Chesapeake Bay. I. Response to large pulse of rainfall Chesapeake Sci 13:282–299

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorenzen CJ (1966) A method for continous measurement of in vivo chlorophyll concentration. Deep-Sea Res 13:223–227

    Google Scholar 

  • Mantoura RFC, Llewellyn CA (1983) The rapid determination of algal chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments and their degradation products in natural waters by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Analytica chim Acta 151:297–314

    Google Scholar 

  • Millie DF, Paerl HW, Hurley JP (1993) Microalgal pigment assessments using high performance liquid chromatography: a synopsis of organismall and ecological applications. Can J Fish aquat Sciences 50:2513–2527

    Google Scholar 

  • Morel A, Bricaud A (1981) Theoretical results concerning light absorption in a discrete medium, and application to specific absorption of phytoplankton. Deep-Sea Res. 28:1375–1393

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morel A, Bricaud A (1986) Inherent optical propertiens of algal cells including picoplankton: theoretical and experimental results. Can Bull Fish aquat Sciences 214:521–559

    Google Scholar 

  • Neori A, Holm-Hansen O, Mitchell BG, Kiefer DA (1984) Photoadaptation in marine phytoplankton: changes in spectral absorption and excitation of chlorophyll a fluorescence. Pl Physiol 76: 518–524

    Google Scholar 

  • Parsons TR, Maita Y, Lalli CM (1984) A manual of chemical and biological methods for seawater analysis. Pergamon Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Pingree RD, Harris RP (1988) An in vivo fluorescence response in the Bay of Biscay in June. J mar biol Ass UK 68:519–529

    Google Scholar 

  • Platt T, Subba-Rao DV, Irwin B (1983) Photosynthesis of picoplankton in the oligotrophic ocean. Nature, Lond 301:702–704

    Google Scholar 

  • Prézelin BB, Ley AC (1980) Photosynthesis and chlorophyll a fluorescence rhythms of marine phytoplankton. Mar Biol 55: 295–307

    Google Scholar 

  • Putt M, Harris GP, Cuhel RL (1987) Photoinhibition of DCMU-enhanced fluorescence in Lake Ontario phytoplankton. Can J Fish aquat Sciences 44:2144–2154

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith RE, Kalff J (1982) Size-dependence phosphorus uptake kinetics and cell quota in phytoplankton. J Phycol 18:275–284

    Google Scholar 

  • SooHoo JB, Kiefer DA, Collins DJ, McDermid IS (1986) in vivo fluorescence excitation and absorption spectra of marine phytoplankton. I. Taxonomic characteristics and response to photoadaptation. J Plankton Res 8:97–214

    Google Scholar 

  • Stockner JG, Antia NJ (1986) Algal picoplankton from marine and freshwater ecosytems: a multidisciplinary perspective. Can J Fish aquat Sciences 43:2472–2503

    Google Scholar 

  • Strickland JDH (1968) Continuous measurement of in vivo chlorophyll: a precautionary note. Deep-Sea Res. 15:225–227

    Google Scholar 

  • Taguchi S (1976) Relationship between photosynthesis and cell size of marine diatoms. J Physiol 12:185–189

    Google Scholar 

  • Turpin DH, Harrison PJ (1980) Cell size manipulation in natural marine, planktonic diatom communities. Can J Fish aquat Sciences 37:1193–1195

    Google Scholar 

  • Vincent WF, Neale PJ, Richerson PJ (1984) Photoinhibition: algal responses to bright light during diel stratification and mixing in a tropical alpine lake. J Phycol 20:201–211

    Google Scholar 

  • Yentsch CS, Yentsch CM (1979) Fluorescence spectral signatures: the characterization of phytoplankton populations by the use of excitation and emission spectra. J mar Res 37:471–483

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. C. Guo

    Present address: National Marine Fisheries Service, Beaufort Laboratory, NOAA, 28516, Beaufort, North Carolina, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oceanography, Old Dominion University, 23529, Norfolk, Virginia, USA

    C. Guo & W. M. Dunstan

Authors
  1. C. Guo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. W. M. Dunstan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Communicated by N. H. Marcus, Tallahassee

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Guo, C., Dunstan, W.M. Depth-dependent changes in chlorophyll fluorescence number at a Sargasso Sea station. Marine Biology 122, 333–339 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00348947

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00348947

Keywords

Search

Navigation