Phototactic responses of Elachista antarctica (Phaeophyceae) spores of different ages across a broad irradiance range using new motion analysis software

• Published in: Botanica Marina
• Main Authors: Bucolo, Philip, Amsler, Charles D., McClintock, James B., Baker, Bill J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Walter de Gruyter GmbH 2012
• Subjects: Plant Science; Aquatic Science; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/bot-2012-0140; https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/bot-2012-0140/xml; https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/bot-2012-0140/pdf

Abstract Phototactic movements of Elachista antarctica spores were quantified across a wide range of irradiances from 10 to 800 μmol photons m -2 s -1 using the recently updated version of CellTrak 1.5 motion analysis software. Spores 0–12 h old exhibited phototactic attraction at 80 and 200 μmol photons m -2 s -1 , which contributed to vertical movements up out of the boundary layer to be further dispersed hydrodynamically, but were repelled at 800 μmol photons m -2 s -1 , causing spores to retreat from detrimental irradiances. No significant effects were observed among spores released 24–36 h before measuring phototaxis at 200 and 800 μmol photons m -2 s -1 .