EXCRETION OF COLORED ULTRAVIOLET-ABSORBING SUBSTANCES BY MARINE ALGAE

Abstract

Normal, healthy thalli of Fucus vesiculosus have been shown to release into the surrounding medium yellow compounds which absorb ultraviolet light. A study of this phenomenon revealed that brief exposure to elevated temperatures (20 °C) increased the amount of pigment released. There was no difference in the production in light or darkness and only a small decrease with reduced salinity. The amount of pigmentation observed in the medium was directly proportional to the degree of alkalinity from pH 7 to pH 9.A number of other macrophytes and microphytes were examined and only those possessing physodes released substances giving a spectrum similar to that of F. vesiculosus.Isolation of the material, alkaline hydrolysis, and chromatography revealed phloroglucinol and several unidentified fluorescent substances. It appears that these materials were flavonols or catechin-type tannins.