Diel quenching of Southern Ocean phytoplankton fluorescence is related to iron limitation

• Published in: Biogeosciences
• Main Authors: Schallenberg, C, Strzepek, RF, Schuback, N, Clementson, LA, Boyd, PW, Trull, TW
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Copernicus GmbH 2020
• Subjects: fluorescence; non-photochemical quenching; iron limitation; diel quenching; FRRf; Fv/Fm; photosynthesis; Southern Ocean
• Online Access: https://eprints.utas.edu.au/34702/; https://eprints.utas.edu.au/34702/1/137508%20-%20Diel%20quenching%20of%20Southern%20Ocean%20phytoplankton%20fluorescence.pdf; https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-793-2020

Evaluation of photosynthetic competency in time and space is critical forbetter estimates and models of oceanic primary productivity. This isespecially true for areas where the lack of iron (Fe) limits phytoplanktonproductivity, such as the Southern Ocean. Assessment of photosyntheticcompetency on large scales remains challenging, but phytoplanktonchlorophyll a fluorescence (ChlF) is a signal that holds promise in thisrespect as it is affected by, and consequently provides information about,the photosynthetic efficiency of the organism. A second process affectingthe ChlF signal is heat dissipation of absorbed light energy, referred to asnon-photochemical quenching (NPQ). NPQ is triggered when excess energy isabsorbed, i.e. when more light is absorbed than can be used directly forphotosynthetic carbon fixation. The effect of NPQ on the ChlF signalcomplicates its interpretation in terms of photosynthetic efficiency, andtherefore most approaches relating ChlF parameters to photosyntheticefficiency seek to minimize the influence of NPQ by working under conditionsof sub-saturating irradiance. Here, we propose that NPQ itself holdspotential as an easily acquired optical signal indicative of phytoplanktonphysiological state with respect to Fe limitation.We present data from a research voyage to the Subantarctic Zone south ofAustralia. Incubation experiments confirmed that resident phytoplankton wereFe-limited, as the maximum quantum yield of primary photochemistry, Fv∕Fm,measured with a fast repetition rate fluorometer (FRRf), increasedsignificantly with Fe addition. The NPQ “capacity” of the phytoplanktonalso showed sensitivity to Fe addition, decreasing with increased Feavailability, confirming previous work. The fortuitous presence of a remnantwarm-core eddy in the vicinity of the study area allowed comparison offluorescence behaviour between two distinct water masses, with the colderwater showing significantly lower Fv∕Fm than the warmer eddy waters,suggesting a difference in Fe limitation status between the two watermasses. Again, NPQ capacity measured with the FRRf mirrored the behaviourobserved in Fv∕Fm, decreasing as Fv∕Fm increased in the warmer water mass.We also analysed the diel quenching of underway fluorescence measured with astandard fluorometer, such as is frequently used to monitor ambientchlorophyll a concentrations, and found a significant difference inbehaviour between the two water masses. This difference was quantified bydefining an NPQ parameter akin to the Stern–Volmer parameterization of NPQ,exploiting the fluorescence quenching induced by diel fluctuations inincident irradiance. We propose that monitoring of this novel NPQ parametermay enable assessment of phytoplankton physiological status (related to Feavailability) based on measurements made with standard fluorometers, asubiquitously used on moorings, ships, floats and gliders.