Impact of Ocean Carbonation on Long-Term Regulation of Light Harvesting in Eelgrass Zostera marina

Authors

Billur Celebi-Ergin, Old Dominion UniversityFollow
Richard C. Zimmerman, Old Dominion UniversityFollow
Victoria J. Hill, Old Dominion UniversityFollow

ORCID

0000-0002-9949-1617 (Ergin), 0000-0002-9399-4264 (Zimmerman)

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2021

DOI

10.3354/meps13777

Publication Title

Marine Ecology Progress Series

Volume

671

Pages

111-128

Abstract

Seagrasses account for approximately 10% of the total carbon stored in the ocean, although photosynthesis of seagrasses is carbon-limited at present oceanic pH levels. Therefore, increasing atmospheric CO₂ concentration, which results in ocean acidification/carbonation, is predicted to have a positive impact on seagrass productivity. Previous studies have confirmed the positive influence of increasing CO₂ on photosynthesis and survival of the temperate eelgrass Zostera marina, but the acclimation of photoprotective mechanisms in this context has not been characterized. We aimed to quantify the long-term impacts of ocean acidification on photochemical control mechanisms that promote photosynthesis while simultaneously protecting eelgrass from photodamage. Eelgrass were grown in controlled outdoor aquaria at different aqueous CO₂ concentrations ranging from ~50 to ~2100 μM from May 2013 to October 2014 and examined for differences in leaf optical properties. Even with daily and seasonal variations of temperature and light, CO₂ enrichment consistently increased plant size, leaf thickness and chlorophyll use efficiency, and decreased pigment content and the package effect while maintaining similar light-harvesting efficiency. These acclimation responses suggest that a common photosynthetic sensory function, such as redox regulation, can be manipulated by CO₂ availability, as well as light, and may serve to optimize photosynthetic carbon gain by seagrasses into the Anthropocene.

Rights

Copyright © 2021 Inter-Research.

Version of record under embargo until five years after publication.

Original Publication Citation

Celebi-Ergin, B., Zimmerman, R. C., & Hill, V. J. (2021). Impact of ocean carbonation on long-term regulation of light harvesting in eelgrass Zostera marina. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 671, 111-128. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13777

Repository Citation

Celebi-Ergin, Billur; Zimmerman, Richard C.; and Hill, Victoria J., "Impact of Ocean Carbonation on Long-Term Regulation of Light Harvesting in Eelgrass Zostera marina" (2021). OES Faculty Publications. 424.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/oeas_fac_pubs/424