Seasonal Changes in the Concentration of Photosynthetic Pigments Palmaria palmata (Linnaeus) F. Weber & D. Mohr

Abstract

The article presented the overview of the main seasonal dynamics of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, carotenoids and phycobiliproteins) as well as their ratios for the mass species of the Murmansk coast of the Barents Sea red algae Palmaria palmata. The concentration of pigments depends on the level of illumination and temperature which is statistically confirmed. The results of the research showed that the chlorophyll content of Palmaria palmata is characterized by a significant decrease in summer and an increase in winter which is in contrast to the change in the level of illumination. It was proved that in winter with a decrease in light, the efficiency of photosynthesis is provided by the accumulation of pigments including phycobilins. It is suggested that the relationship of reproduction, namely the release of tetraspores with the reduction of phycobiliproteins, since the presented process requires significant energy costs. It is shown that the concentration of phycobilins decreases with increasing light intensity. Prolonged presence of algae under high light intensities reduces the amount of photosynthetic pigments. The results of the research showed that the number of pigments decreases with low temperatures and vice versa their number increases with increasing temperature. A significant negative correlation between the water temperature and the main pigments of the photosynthetic apparatus – chlorophyll a and carotenoids was revealed. The concentration of carotenoids and phycobilins depends on the function they perform: in summer - photoprotectors, in winter-additional light collectors. Palmaria has a maximum content during the polar night. Significant changes in the ratios of Car/Chl a, PhE/ Chl a, PhE / PhE depending on environmental factors are shown.