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Ocean acidification and warming are affecting polar regions with particular intensity. Rocky shores of the Antarctic Peninsula are dominated by canopy-forming Desmarestiales. This study investigates the physiological and transcriptomic responses of the endemic macroalga Desmarestia anceps to a combination of different levels of temperature (2 and 7 °C), dissolved CO2 (380 and 1000 ppm), and irradiance (65 and 145 µmol photons m-2 s-1). Growth and photosynthesis increased at high CO2 conditions, and strongly decreased at 2 °C plus high irradiance, in comparison to the other treatments. Photoinhibition at 2 °C plus high irradiance was evidenced by the photochemical performance and intensive release of dissolved organic carbon. The highest number of differentially regulated transcripts was observed in thalli exposed to 2 °C plus high irradiance. Algal 13C isotopic discrimination values suggested an absence of down-regulation of carbon-concentrating mechanisms at high CO2. CO2 enrichment induced few transcriptomic changes. There was high and constitutive gene expression of many photochemical and inorganic carbon utilization components, which might be related to the strong adaptation of D. anceps to the Antarctic environment. These results suggest that increased temperature and CO2 will allow D. anceps to maintain its productivity while tolerating higher irradiances than at present conditions., (© The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.)

Main Conclusion: The Arctic population of the kelp Saccharina latissima differs from the Helgoland population in its sensitivity to changing temperature and CO 2 levels. The Arctic population does more likely benefit from the upcoming environmental scenario than its Atlantic counterpart. The previous research demonstrated that warming and ocean acidification (OA) affect the biochemical composition of Arctic (Spitsbergen; SP) and cold-temperate (Helgoland; HL) Saccharina latissima differently, suggesting ecotypic differentiation. This study analyses the responses to different partial pressures of CO 2 (380, 800, and 1500 µatm pCO 2 ) and temperature levels (SP population: 4, 10 °C; HL population: 10, 17 °C) on the photophysiology (O 2 production, pigment composition, D1-protein content) and carbon assimilation [Rubisco content, carbon concentrating mechanisms (CCMs), growth rate] of both ecotypes. Elevated temperatures stimulated O 2 production in both populations, and also led to an increase in pigment content and a deactivation of CCMs, as indicated by 13 C isotopic discrimination of algal biomass (ε p ) in the HL population, which was not observed in SP thalli. In general, pCO 2 effects were less pronounced than temperature effects. High pCO 2 deactivated CCMs in both populations and produced a decrease in the Rubisco content of HL thalli, while it was unaltered in SP population. As a result, the growth rate of the Arctic ecotype increased at elevated pCO 2 and higher temperatures and it remained unchanged in the HL population. Ecotypic differentiation was revealed by a significantly higher O 2 production rate and an increase in Chl a, Rubisco, and D1 protein content in SP thalli, but a lower growth rate, in comparison to the HL population. We conclude that both populations differ in their sensitivity to changing temperatures and OA and that the Arctic population is more likely to benefit from the upcoming environmental scenario than its Atlantic counterpart.

The combined effects of ocean acidification and ultraviolet radiation (UVR) have been studied in the kelps Alaria esculenta and Saccharina latissima from Kongsfjorden (Svalbard), two major components of the Arctic macroalgal community, in order to assess their potential to thrive in a changing environment. Overall results revealed synergistic effects, however with a different amplitude in the respective species. Changes in growth, internal N, C:N ratio, pigments, optimum quantum yield (Fv/Fm) and electron transport rates (ETR) following CO2 enrichment and/or UVR were generally more pronounced in S. latissima than in A. esculenta. The highest growth rates were recorded under simultaneous CO2 enrichment and UVR in both species. UVR-mediated changes in pigment content were partially prevented under elevated CO2 in both species. Similarly, UVR led to increased photosynthetic efficiency (α) and ETR only if CO2 was not elevated in A. esculenta and even under high CO2 in S. latissima. Increased CO2 did not inhibit external carbonic anhydrase (eCA) activity in the short-term but in the mid-term, indicating a control through acclimation of photosynthesis rather than a direct inhibition of eCA by CO2. The higher benefit of simultaneous CO2 enrichment and UVR for S. latissima respect to A. esculenta seems to involve higher C and N assimilation efficiency, as well as higher ETR, despite a more sensitive Fv/Fm. The differential responses shown by these two species indicate that ongoing ocean acidification and UVR could potentially change the dominance at lower depths (4-6m), which will eventually drive changes at the community level in the Arctic coastal ecosystem. These results support an existing consideration of S. latissima as a winner species in the global change scenario., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Previous research suggested that the polar and temperate populations of the kelp Saccharina latissima represent different ecotypes. The ecotypic differentiation might also be reflected in their biochemical composition (BC) under changing temperatures and pCO2. Accordingly, it was tested if the BC of Arctic (Spitsbergen) and temperate S. latissima (Helgoland) is different and if they are differently affected by changes in temperature and pCO2. Thalli from Helgoland grown at 17 °C and 10 °C and from Spitsbergen at 10 °C and 4 °C were all tested at either 380, 800, or 1,500 µatm pCO2, and total C-, total N-, protein, soluble carbohydrate, and lipid content, as well as C/N-ratio were measured. At 10 °C, the Arctic population had a higher content of total C, soluble carbohydrates, and lipids, whereas the N- and protein content was lower. At the lower tested temperature, the Arctic ecotype had particularly higher contents of lipids, while content of soluble carbohydrates increased in the Helgoland population only. In Helgoland-thalli, elevated pCO2 caused a higher content of soluble carbohydrates at 17 °C but lowered the content of N and lipids and increased the C/N-ratio at 10 °C. Elevated pCO2 alone did not affect the BC of the Spitsbergen population. Conclusively, the Arctic ecotype was more resilient to increased pCO2 than the temperate one, and both ecotypes differed in their response pattern to temperature. This differential pattern is discussed in the context of the adaptation of the Arctic ecotype to low temperature and the polar night.

The effects of increased CO2 and irradiance on the physiological performance of the chlorophyte Dunaliella tertiolecta were studied at different PAR and UVR (UVA + UVB) irradiances, simulating the solar radiation at different depths, at present (390 ppmv, LC) and predicted CO2 levels for the year 2100 (1000 ppmv, HC). Elevated CO2 resulted in higher optimum and effective quantum yields (F(v)/F(m) and ϕPSII, respectively), electron transport rates (ETR) and specific growth rates (μ). Cell stress was alleviated in HC with respect to LC as evidenced by a decrease in reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. DNA damage showed a 42-fold increase in cyclobutane-pyrimidine dimer (CPD) formation under the highest irradiance (1100 μmol quanta m(-2) s(-1)) in LC with respect to the lowest irradiance (200 μmol quanta m(-2) s(-1)). Photolyase (CII-PCD-PL) gene expression was upregulated under HC resulting in a drastic decrease in CPD accumulation to only 25% with respect to LC. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) accumulation was always higher in HC and the accumulation pattern indicated its involvement in repair or growth depending on the irradiance dose. The repressor of silencing (ROS1) was only marginally involved in the response, suggesting that photoreactivation was the most relevant mechanism to overcome UVR damage. Our results demonstrate that future scenarios of global change result in alleviation of irradiance stress by CO2-induced photoprotection in D. tertiolecta.

The seaweed Ulva rigida C. Agardh (Chlorophyta) was cultured under two CO(2) conditions supplied through the air bubbling system: non-manipulated air and 1% CO(2)-enriched aeration. These were also combined with N sufficiency and N limitation, using nitrate as the only N source. High CO(2) in U. rigida led to higher growth rates without increasing the C fixed through photosynthesis under N sufficiency. Quantum yields for charge separation at photosystem II (PSII) reaction centres (phi(PSII)) and for oxygen evolution (phi(O2)) decreased at high CO(2) even in N-sufficient thalli. Cyclic electron flow around PSII as part of a photoprotection strategy accompanied by decreased antennae size was suspected. The new re-arrangement of the photosynthetic energy at high CO(2) included reduced investment in processes other than C fixation, as well as in carbon diverted to respiration. As a result, quantum yield for new biomass-C production (phi(growth)) increased. The calculation of the individual quantum yields for the different processes involved allowed the completion of the energy flow scheme through the cell from incident light to biomass production for each of the CO(2) and N-supply conditions studied.

[Display omitted] • Small Ni 1−x Mn x Co 2 O 4 nanoparticles were synthesized by low-temperature gel combustion. • All the nanoparticles revealed strong catalytic performance in 4-nitrophenol reduction. • The catalytic performance of Ni 0.5 Mn 0.5 Co 2 O 4 nanoparticles was superior to NiCo 2 O 4 and MnCo 2 O 4 nanoparticles. • >90 % of 4-nitrophenol could be reduced in 12 min. • The anomalous catalytic behaviors of the nanostructures in repeated cycles were explained. Developing efficient catalysts is one of the challenging tasks for protecting our environment from contamination. Here we present the synthesis of Ni 1−x Mn x Co 2 O 4 , noble-metal free multimetallic oxide nanoparticles of 9.5–25.0 nm average sizes by a low-temperature gel combustion method and their utilization as catalysts for rapid reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to aminophenol (AP). Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry were used for the characterization of the nanostructures. All the nanostructures revealed strong catalytic performance in the reduction of 4-NP, and the performance of Ni 0.5 Mn 0.5 Co 2 O 4 nanoparticles was superior (>90 % reduction in 12 min) to that of NiCo 2 O 4 and MnCo 2 O 4 nanoparticles. While the 4-NP reduction process followed a pseudo-first-order kinetics for all the catalysts, the reduction efficiency of the samples manifested a complex trend from cycle to cycle. The anomalous catalytic behavior of the nanostructures in 4-NP degradation has been explained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocean acidification and warming are affecting polar regions with particular intensity. Rocky shores of the Antarctic Peninsula are dominated by canopy-forming Desmarestiales. This study investigates the physiological and transcriptomic responses of the endemic macroalga Desmarestia anceps to a combination of different levels of temperature (2 and 7 °C), dissolved CO2 (380 and 1000 ppm), and irradiance (65 and 145 μmol photons m-2 s-1). Growth and photosynthesis increased at high CO2 conditions, and strongly decreased at 2 °C plus high irradiance, in comparison to the other treatments. Photoinhibition at 2 °C plus high irradiance was evidenced by the photochemical performance and intensive release of dissolved organic carbon. The highest number of differentially regulated transcripts was observed in thalli exposed to 2 °C plus high irradiance. Algal 13C isotopic discrimination values suggested an absence of down-regulation of carbon-concentrating mechanisms at high CO2. CO2 enrichment induced few transcriptomic changes. There was high and constitutive gene expression of many photochemical and inorganic carbon utilization components, which might be related to the strong adaptation of D. anceps to the Antarctic environment. These results suggest that increased temperature and CO2 will allow D. anceps to maintain its productivity while tolerating higher irradiances than at present conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion : The Arctic population of the kelp Saccharina latissima differs from the Helgoland population in its sensitivity to changing temperature and CO levels. The Arctic population does more likely benefit from the upcoming environmental scenario than its Atlantic counterpart. The previous research demonstrated that warming and ocean acidification (OA) affect the biochemical composition of Arctic (Spitsbergen; SP) and cold-temperate (Helgoland; HL) Saccharina latissima differently, suggesting ecotypic differentiation. This study analyses the responses to different partial pressures of CO (380, 800, and 1500 µatm pCO) and temperature levels (SP population: 4, 10 °C; HL population: 10, 17 °C) on the photophysiology (O production, pigment composition, D1-protein content) and carbon assimilation [Rubisco content, carbon concentrating mechanisms (CCMs), growth rate] of both ecotypes. Elevated temperatures stimulated O production in both populations, and also led to an increase in pigment content and a deactivation of CCMs, as indicated by C isotopic discrimination of algal biomass ( ε ) in the HL population, which was not observed in SP thalli. In general, pCO effects were less pronounced than temperature effects. High pCO deactivated CCMs in both populations and produced a decrease in the Rubisco content of HL thalli, while it was unaltered in SP population. As a result, the growth rate of the Arctic ecotype increased at elevated pCO and higher temperatures and it remained unchanged in the HL population. Ecotypic differentiation was revealed by a significantly higher O production rate and an increase in Chl a, Rubisco, and D1 protein content in SP thalli, but a lower growth rate, in comparison to the HL population. We conclude that both populations differ in their sensitivity to changing temperatures and OA and that the Arctic population is more likely to benefit from the upcoming environmental scenario than its Atlantic counterpart. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of increased CO2 levels (10,000 μl l-1) in cultures of the green nitrophilic macroalga Ulva rigida C. Agardh were tested under conditions of N saturation and N limitation, using nitrate as the only N source. Enrichment with CO2 enhanced growth, while net photosynthesis, gross photosynthesis, dark respiration rates and soluble protein content decreased. The internal C pool remained constant at high CO2, while the assimilated C that was released to the external medium was less than half the values obtained under ambient CO2 levels. This higher retention of C provided the source for extra biomass production under N saturation. In N-sufficient thalli, nitrate-uptake rate and the activity of nitrate reductase (EC 1.6.6.1) increased under high CO2 levels. This did not affect the N content or the internal C:N balance, implying that the extra N-assimilation capacity led to the production of new biomass in proportion to C. Growth enhancement by increased level of CO2 was entirely dependent on the enhancement effect of CO2 on N-assimilation rates. The increase in nitrate reductase activity at high CO2 was not related to soluble carbohydrates or internal C. This indicates that the regulation of N assimilation by CO2 in U. rigida might involve a different pathway from that proposed for higher plants. The role of organic C release as an effective regulatory mechanism maintaining the internal C:N balance in response to different CO2 levels is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]