Photosynthetic energy conversion efficiency in the ocean
The foundation of almost every ecosystem on Earth relies on photosynthetic organisms to convert sunlight energy into chemical bond energy. In aquatic ecosystems a diverse group of single celled organisms called phytoplankton are the prevalent gateway for biological energy, responsible for nearly hal...
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ftrutgersuniv:oai:example.org:rutgers-lib:66821 2023-05-15T13:48:16+02:00 Photosynthetic energy conversion efficiency in the ocean Sherman, Jonathan (author) Falkowski, Paul (chair) Gorbunov, Maxim (member) Schofield, Oscar (member) Scholes, Gregory (member) Rutgers University School of Graduate Studies 2021 1 online resource (xiv, 149 pages) application/pdf http://dissertations.umi.com/gsnb.rutgers:11548 English eng Rutgers University Electronic Theses and Dissertations ETD School of Graduate Studies Electronic Theses and Dissertations rucore10001600001 http://dissertations.umi.com/gsnb.rutgers:11548 The author owns the copyright to this work. Biological oceanography Fluorescence lifetime Photosynthesis Phytoplankton Variable fluorescence Text theses 2021 ftrutgersuniv 2022-05-30T13:56:42Z The foundation of almost every ecosystem on Earth relies on photosynthetic organisms to convert sunlight energy into chemical bond energy. In aquatic ecosystems a diverse group of single celled organisms called phytoplankton are the prevalent gateway for biological energy, responsible for nearly half of Earth’s net primary production. Consequently, phytoplankton play a vital role not only in the dynamics of their respective environment, but also in global geochemical cycles. The first step in the photosynthetic process is the absorption of light energy, which can then drive a photochemical reaction, or alternatively dissipate via fluorescence or thermal dissipation. The efficiency of each pathway and the partitions between them collectively denote the physiological state of phytoplankton, which ultimately controls phytoplankton primary production. The research presented in this dissertation examines the mechanisms by which phytoplankton physiologically acclimate and adapt to rapid variations in nutrients and light. The methodological approach in this research relies on simultaneous measurements of chlorophyll a variable fluorescence and fluorescence lifetime in a laboratory study and in two oceanographic cruises. With this approach both the photochemical and fluorescence emission pathways efficiencies are directly measured, and the thermal dissipation efficiency is inferred. In chapter 1, I present a review of the topic. In chapter 2, I examine the role a family of LHCx proteins plays in photoprotection and regulation of the light harvesting complex functional size in diatoms. In chapter 3, focused on the West Antarctic Peninsula, I demonstrate the potential simultaneous measurements of the photochemical and fluorescence efficiencies have as a rapid diagnostic tool for in situ assessments of phytoplankton physiology in response to iron limitation. In chapter 4, I examine dynamics in phytoplankton physiology across the Equatorial Atlantic Ocean in response to infrequent upwelling events. Ph.D. Includes ... Thesis Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula RUcore - Rutgers University Community Repository Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula |
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RUcore - Rutgers University Community Repository |
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ftrutgersuniv |
language |
English |
topic |
Biological oceanography Fluorescence lifetime Photosynthesis Phytoplankton Variable fluorescence |
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Biological oceanography Fluorescence lifetime Photosynthesis Phytoplankton Variable fluorescence Photosynthetic energy conversion efficiency in the ocean |
topic_facet |
Biological oceanography Fluorescence lifetime Photosynthesis Phytoplankton Variable fluorescence |
description |
The foundation of almost every ecosystem on Earth relies on photosynthetic organisms to convert sunlight energy into chemical bond energy. In aquatic ecosystems a diverse group of single celled organisms called phytoplankton are the prevalent gateway for biological energy, responsible for nearly half of Earth’s net primary production. Consequently, phytoplankton play a vital role not only in the dynamics of their respective environment, but also in global geochemical cycles. The first step in the photosynthetic process is the absorption of light energy, which can then drive a photochemical reaction, or alternatively dissipate via fluorescence or thermal dissipation. The efficiency of each pathway and the partitions between them collectively denote the physiological state of phytoplankton, which ultimately controls phytoplankton primary production. The research presented in this dissertation examines the mechanisms by which phytoplankton physiologically acclimate and adapt to rapid variations in nutrients and light. The methodological approach in this research relies on simultaneous measurements of chlorophyll a variable fluorescence and fluorescence lifetime in a laboratory study and in two oceanographic cruises. With this approach both the photochemical and fluorescence emission pathways efficiencies are directly measured, and the thermal dissipation efficiency is inferred. In chapter 1, I present a review of the topic. In chapter 2, I examine the role a family of LHCx proteins plays in photoprotection and regulation of the light harvesting complex functional size in diatoms. In chapter 3, focused on the West Antarctic Peninsula, I demonstrate the potential simultaneous measurements of the photochemical and fluorescence efficiencies have as a rapid diagnostic tool for in situ assessments of phytoplankton physiology in response to iron limitation. In chapter 4, I examine dynamics in phytoplankton physiology across the Equatorial Atlantic Ocean in response to infrequent upwelling events. Ph.D. Includes ... |
author2 |
Sherman, Jonathan (author) Falkowski, Paul (chair) Gorbunov, Maxim (member) Schofield, Oscar (member) Scholes, Gregory (member) Rutgers University School of Graduate Studies |
format |
Thesis |
title |
Photosynthetic energy conversion efficiency in the ocean |
title_short |
Photosynthetic energy conversion efficiency in the ocean |
title_full |
Photosynthetic energy conversion efficiency in the ocean |
title_fullStr |
Photosynthetic energy conversion efficiency in the ocean |
title_full_unstemmed |
Photosynthetic energy conversion efficiency in the ocean |
title_sort |
photosynthetic energy conversion efficiency in the ocean |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
http://dissertations.umi.com/gsnb.rutgers:11548 |
geographic |
Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula |
op_relation |
Rutgers University Electronic Theses and Dissertations ETD School of Graduate Studies Electronic Theses and Dissertations rucore10001600001 http://dissertations.umi.com/gsnb.rutgers:11548 |
op_rights |
The author owns the copyright to this work. |
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