SEASONAL VARIATION OF P CONTENT AND MAJOR N POOLS IN PALMARIA PALMATA (RHODOPHYTA)¹

Abstract

The annual variation of major nitrogen pools, phosphorus, carbon, ash, and thallus water content in relation to seasonal environmental changes was studied in two northern Spanish populations of the edible seaweed Palmaria palmata (Linnaeus) Kuntze. Observed patterns were investigated using Spearman rank order correlation coefficients. There were significant relationships between thallus nutrient content and nitrate and orthophosphate seawater concentration, irradiance, temperature, and wave force. The highest levels of total N and P and nitrogenous compounds were observed during autumn and winter because the thallus stored N‐ and P‐rich compounds in response to high nutrient seawater concentration when growth was limited by low light and temperature. Phycoerythrin and other proteins were the main N reserves. Thallus P content was higher in algae from the eutrophic site. During spring, reduced N and P thallus content and increased ash, water, and C content were observed in the growing fronds. N and P seawater concentrations were undetectable during summer when nutrient reserves were low and growth was reduced and eventually suppressed, suggesting nutrient limiting conditions. Palmaria palmata clearly could take advantage of elevated N and P concentrations to create storage reserves in winter to support early summer growth. This storage response reduced the dependence of algal nutrition on the external nutrient supply and supports the use of pulse fertilization to diminish summer nutrient limitation of cultured algae.

Short-term ecophysiological and biochemical responses of Cystoseira tamariscifolia and Ellisolandia elongata to environmental changes

“…Nitrogen limitation affects many processes in macroalgae including photosynthetic capacity (Pérez-Lloréns et al 1996), protein content (Vergara et al 1995, Martínez & Rico 2002 and photoprotection mechanisms (Korbee-Peinado et al 2004, Korbee et al 2005b, Huovinen et al 2006. Under moderate to highly desiccated conditions, some intertidal macroalgae increase their nitrogen and carbon uptake (Lobban & Harrison 1994, Flores-Moya et al 1998, Nygard & Dring 2008.…”

Environmental control of the annual erect phase of <i>Nemalion helminthoides</i> (Rhodophyta) in the field

“…3a, b) were low when compared with usual autumn/winter values in this area (up to 7 µM nitrate + nitrite and 0.3 µM orthophosphate reported in Martínez and Rico, 2002). There was a trend for nitrate + nitrite (and occasionally for phosphate) to be lower at the third sampling site, which was located far from the freshwater stream, particularly on days with high nutrient levels (Fig.…”

“…On the coast of N Spain (43°34'N) these conditions are found around mid-May when N. helminthoides starts to colonize the upper faces of intertidal rocky boulders, at the lowest nutrient levels of the year (Rico and Fernández, 1996;Martínez and Rico, 2002;Sánchez and Fernández, 2006). Other seaweeds also follow this kind of cycle, such as many Porphyra species (Lubchenco andCubit, 1980, Hernández et al, 1993;Pedersen et al, 2004), the sea palm Postelsia palmaeformis (Blanchette, 1996), and the brown seaweed Desmarestia ligulata (Dayton et al, 1992, Edwards, 2000.…”

“…This species has an heteromorphic life-history: the erect phase is conspicuous during late spring-summer, whereas during winter, only the filamentous tetrasporophyte perennates can be seen (Martin, 1969). Therefore, the common strategy adopted by perennial seaweeds of storing nutrient pools (mainly proteins and phycobilins in red seaweeds) in winter in order to overcome the summer nutrient limitation is not possible (Wheeler and Björnsäter, 1992;Rico and Fernández, 1996;Pedersen and Borum, 1996;Pueschel and Korb, 2001;Martínez and Rico, 2002). Consequently, summer-annual seaweeds need to be able to survive with the small amounts of nutrients available.…”

Population ecology of Palmaria palmata (Palmariales, Rhodophyta) from harvested and non-harvested shores on Digby Neck, Nova Scotia, Canada

“…General observations of the algal community were made as well as the nature of the substratum. Although some beaches were visited several times beginning in May 2010, most data was gathered during the July-August spring tides.Where Martínez et al 2006, Pang andLüning 2006), the research has mostly focused on tank cultivation and physiological studies (e.g., Morgan et al 1980, Morgan and Simpson 1981, Martínez and Rico 2002, Corey et al 2011. Despite the economic and cultural importance of the wild harvest, there have been no (Stackhouse) Guiry, or Devaleraea ramentacea (Linnaeus) Guiry, whole host fronds were collected, every frond of P. palmata was removed and length was measured.…”