Nutrient induced fluorescence transients (NIFTs) provide a rapid measure of P and C (co-)limitation in a green alga. Issue 1 (2nd January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Spijkerman, Elly; Stojkovic, Slobodanka; Holland, Daryl; Lachmann, Sabrina C.; Beardall, John
• Is Part Of: European journal of phycology. Volume 51:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 47
• Page End: 58
• Publication Date: 2016-01-02
• Subjects: acidophile -- Chlamydomonas -- CO2 concentrating mechanism -- CO2 limitation -- extremophile -- nutrient limitation -- photosynthesis response -- phytoplankton -- stoichiometry; Algology -- Periodicals; Algae -- Periodicals; 579.8
• DOI: 10.1080/09670262.2015.1095355
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0967-0262

Abstract

Abstract : Nutrient Induced Fluorescence Transients (NIFTs) have been shown to be a possible way of testing for the limiting nutrient in algal populations. In this study we tested the hypothesis that NIFTs can be used to detect a (co-)limitation for inorganic phosphorus (Pi) and CO2 in the green alga Chlamydomonas acidophila and that the magnitude of the NIFTs can be related to cellular P:C ratios. We show a co-limitation response for Pi and CO2 via traditional nutrient enrichment experiments in natural phytoplankton populations dominated by C. acidophila . We measured NIFT responses after a Pi- or a CO2 -spike in C. acidophila batch cultures at various stages of Pi and inorganic C limitation. Significant NIFTs were observed in response to spikes in both nutrients. The NIFT response to a Pi-spike showed a strong negative correlation with cellular P:C ratio that was pronounced below 3 mmol P: mol C (equivalent to 0.2 pg P cell –1 ). Both cellular P and C content influenced the extent of the Pi-NIFT response. The NIFT response to a CO2 -spike correlated to low CO2 culturing conditions and also had a negative correlation with cellular P content. A secondary response within the Pi-NIFT response was related to the CO2 concentration and potentially reflected co-limitation. In conclusion, NIFTs provided a quick and reliable method to detect the growth-limiting nutrient in an extremophile green alga, under Pi-, CO2- and Pi/CO2 (co-)limited growth conditions.