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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 59(10)

Diurnal and monthly vertical profiles of benthic microalgae within intertidal sediments from two temperate localities

Leonie Jordan A B , Andrew McMinn A and Simon Wotherspoon B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Institute of Antarctic and Southern Ocean Studies, University of Tasmania, Box 252-77, Hobart, Tas. 7001, Australia.

B School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Tasmania, Box 37, Hobart, Tas. 7001, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: ljjordan@utas.edu.au

Marine and Freshwater Research 59(10) 931-939 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF07105
Submitted: 22 May 2007  Accepted: 7 August 2008   Published: 27 October 2008

Abstract

Intertidal areas supporting microphytobenthos (MPB) are dynamic with changes in light intensity over short (tidal) and long (seasonal) time scales. The ability of MPB to migrate away from or towards the sediment surface to optimise sunlight is one reason they are so successful in intertidal areas. Over 12 months, we investigated the effects of time of day on the migration of benthic diatoms at two sites near Hobart, Tasmania, using a pulse amplitude modulation fluorometer to measure chlorophyll fluorescence. Chlorophyll a content and maximum quantum yield (FV/FM) were used to examine profiles of microalgal biomass within sediment cores. There was a seasonal pattern of chlorophyll a biofilm development, peaking in summer at the sandy site, Pipe Clay Lagoon, and in spring at the muddier Browns River. The muddier site had an overall greater MPB biomass than the sandy site. The FV/FM values demonstrated that cells were more ‘stressed’ at midday when sunlight was highest. However, significant seasonal variation was only observed at Browns River. Vertical migration through the sediment was not evident. It seems that the MPB at these two sites are using photoadaptive strategies along with small-scale vertical migration below the detection limit of the methods used in the present study.

Additional keywords: chlorophyll, fluorometer, maximum quantum yield.


Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the three anonymous referees for their valuable suggestions, The University of Tasmania for support and infrastructure and Don Jordan for his assistance with the field work.


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