Effect of UV-B radiation on the marine diatoms Lauderia annulata and Thalassiorsira rotula grown in different salinities

Abstract

The marine diatoms Lauderia annulata Cleve and Thalassiosira rotula Meunier were grown at different salinities (20, 35 and 45‰) and exposed to different levels of midultraviolet, UV-B) 439, 717 and 1230 J m-2 d-1, weighted) for 2 d. A low UV-B dose (439 J m-2 d-1) usually caused a slight increase in biomass production (dry weight) compared to non-UV-B irradiated cells. Enhanced UV-B radiation (717 J m-2 d-1) depressed protein and pigment content (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll c1+c2 and carotenoids), especially in algae grown at 20 or 35‰ salt concentration of the nutrient solution. The effect of UV-B radiation (717 J m-2 d-1) on the pattern and concentration of amino acids was species-dependent. Aspartic acid was reduced in all tested diatoms. A drastic increase in glutamine and a reduction in glutamic acid pools could be observed in L. annulata samples, but no significant variation of the impact of UV-B was found in dependence on the salt concentration of the nutrient medium. T. rotula cells grown at 35‰ S showed an increase of glutamic acid and a decrease of glutamine levels after UV-B radiation. The results are discussed in relation to the impact of UV-B upon carbon and nitrogen metabolism. © 1984 Springer-Verlag.