Microsensor measurements of the external and internal microenvironment of Fucus vesiculosus

TY - JOUR

T1 - Microsensor measurements of the external and internal microenvironment of Fucus vesiculosus

AU - Spilling, Kristian

AU - Titelman, Josefin

AU - Greve, Tina M.

AU - Kühl, Michael

N1 - Keywords: boundary layer;brown algae, microsensor;oxygen gradients;photosynthesis, respiration

PY - 2010/12

Y1 - 2010/12

N2 - We investigated the O2, pH, and irradiance microenvironment in and around the tissue of the brown alga Fucus vesiculosus L. using microsensors. Microsensors are ideal tools for gaining new insights into what limits and controls macroalgal activity and growth at very fine spatial (<100 μm) and temporal (seconds) scales. This first microsensor investigation of a fucoid macroalga revealed differences in the microenvironment and metabolic activities at the level of different cell layers and thallus structures. F. vesiculosus responded quickly to rapid shifts in irradiance resulting in a highly dynamic microenvironment around and within its thallus. In combination with detailed morphological studies and molecular approaches, microsensors offer a promising toolbox to quantitatively describe structural and functional adaptations of macroalgae to environmental conditions, such as flow and light climate, as well as their physiological responses to environmental stressors.

AB - We investigated the O2, pH, and irradiance microenvironment in and around the tissue of the brown alga Fucus vesiculosus L. using microsensors. Microsensors are ideal tools for gaining new insights into what limits and controls macroalgal activity and growth at very fine spatial (<100 μm) and temporal (seconds) scales. This first microsensor investigation of a fucoid macroalga revealed differences in the microenvironment and metabolic activities at the level of different cell layers and thallus structures. F. vesiculosus responded quickly to rapid shifts in irradiance resulting in a highly dynamic microenvironment around and within its thallus. In combination with detailed morphological studies and molecular approaches, microsensors offer a promising toolbox to quantitatively describe structural and functional adaptations of macroalgae to environmental conditions, such as flow and light climate, as well as their physiological responses to environmental stressors.

U2 - 10.1111/j.1529-8817.2010.00894.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1529-8817.2010.00894.x

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0022-3646

VL - 46

SP - 1350

EP - 1355

JO - Journal of Phycology

JF - Journal of Phycology

IS - 6

ER -