Physiological responses of the calcifying rhodophyte, Corallina officinalis (L.), to future CO2 levels

• Published in: Marine Biology
• Main Authors: Hofmann, Laurie C., Hanelt, Dieter, Bischof, Kai
• Other Authors: Uludağ Üniversitesi/Fen-Edebiyat Fakültesi/Biyoloji Bölümü., Yıldız, Gamze, A-9944-2010, 6701743065
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Springer Heidelberg 2012
• Subjects: Marine & freshwater biology; Green-alga-halimeda; Carbonic-anhydrase; Ocean acidification; Inorganic-carbon; Elevated co2; Crustose coralline; Marine macroalgae; Uv-radiation; Calcification; Photosynthesis; Algae; Corallina officinalis; Rhodophyta; Carbon dioxide; Community structure; Concentration (composition); Enzyme activity; Future prospect; Growth rate; Intertidal community; Macroalga; Meiofauna; Physiological response; Red alga; Refuge; Boron Isotopes; Coralline Alga
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11452/22806; https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-011-1854-9; https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00227-011-1854-9

Future atmospheric CO2 levels will most likely have complex consequences for marine organisms, particulary photosynthetic calcifying organisms. Corallina officinalis L. is an erect calcifying macroalga found in the inter- and subtidal regions of temperate rocky coastlines and provides important substrate and refugia for marine meiofauna. The main goal of the current study was to determine the physiological responses of C. officinalis to increased CO2 concentrations expected to occur within the next century and beyond. Our results show that growth and production of inorganic material decreased under high CO2 levels, while carbonic anhydrase activity was stimulated and negatively correlated to algal inorganic content. Photosynthetic efficiency based on oxygen evolution was also negatively affected by increased CO2. The results of this study indicate that C. officinalis may become less competitive under future CO2 levels, which could result in structural changes in future temperate intertidal communities. Federal Ministry of Education & Research (BMBF)