Osmotic stress and recovery in field populations of Zygnema sp. (Zygnematophyceae, Streptophyta) on Svalbard (High Arctic) subjected to natural desiccation

All studied populations of Zygnema sp. on Svalbard formed akinetes -- stationary-phase cells filled with storage products. However, the populations differed in their reaction to osmotic stress. Whereas the wet-collected samples were strongly impaired by osmotic stress, the osmotic stress resistance...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:FEMS Microbiology Ecology
Main Authors: Pichrtová, M. (Martina), Hájek, T. (Tomáš), Elster, J. (Josef)
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2014
Subjects:
ecophysiology
green algae
plasmolysis
Arctic
Svalbard
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/1574-6941.12288
http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0236579
Description
Summary:All studied populations of Zygnema sp. on Svalbard formed akinetes -- stationary-phase cells filled with storage products. However, the populations differed in their reaction to osmotic stress. Whereas the wet-collected samples were strongly impaired by osmotic stress, the osmotic stress resistance of the naturally dried samples was comparable to that of true aeroterrestrial algae. We showed that arctic populations of Zygnema acclimate well to natural desiccation via hardening that is mediated by slow desiccation. As no other types of specialized cells were observed, we assume that the naturally hardened akinetes also play a key role in winter survival.

Similar Items