Effects of sulfide concentration, pH, and anoxia on photosynthesis and respiration of Zostera marina
Main Article Content
Abstract
Sulfide produced in marine sediments by sulfate reduction is toxic for several macrophytes, and high sediment sulfide concentrations have been associated with seagrass die-off events. Sulfide has been shown to reduce growth in a number of seagrasses, but little is known about its effect on the photosynthetic and respiratory metabolism. Consequently, the aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of sulfide on photosynthesis and respiration of the seagrass Zostera marina. Photosynthetic oxygen evolution and respiration were determined polarographically, while the optimum quantum yield was used as a measure of the photosynthetic performance of photosystem II in the leaves of Z. marina. The results showed that sulfide concentrations of approximately 1000 uM could be considered an upper threshold limit for the survival of Z. marina in the coastal lagoons of Baja California (Mexico) studied. Respiration was not inhibited by sulfide concentrations up to
1000 ?M during 48-h incubations, while photosynthetic performance was reduced by short exposure to sulfide concentrations of 25 uM but also by long exposure to concentrations as low as 50 uM. This is the first study that shows that the photosynthetic capacity of Z. marina is not recovered once the sulfide-free conditions have been re-established.
1000 ?M during 48-h incubations, while photosynthetic performance was reduced by short exposure to sulfide concentrations of 25 uM but also by long exposure to concentrations as low as 50 uM. This is the first study that shows that the photosynthetic capacity of Z. marina is not recovered once the sulfide-free conditions have been re-established.
Downloads
Download data is not yet available.
Article Details
How to Cite
Korhonen, L., Macías-Carranza, V., Abdala, R., Figueroa, F., & Cabello-Pasini, A. (2012). Effects of sulfide concentration, pH, and anoxia on photosynthesis and respiration of Zostera marina. Ciencias Marinas, 38(4), 625–633. https://doi.org/10.7773/cm.v38i4.2034
Issue
Section
Research Article
This is an open access article distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License, which allows you to share and adapt the work, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. Figures, tables and other elements in the article are included in the article’s CC BY 4.0 license, unless otherwise indicated. The journal title is protected by copyrights and not subject to this license. Full license deed can be viewed here.