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MEPS
Marine Ecology Progress Series

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MEPS 162:45-55 (1998)  -  doi:10.3354/meps162045

Determination of microphytobenthos PSII quantum efficiency and photosynthetic activity by means of variable chlorophyll fluorescence

Jacco Kromkamp*, Christiane Barranguet**, Jan Peene

Netherlands Institute for Ecology, Centre for Estuarine and Coastal Ecology, PO Box 140, 4400 AC Yerseke, The Netherlands
*E-mail:
**Present address: University of Amsterdam, Department of Aquatic Ecotoxicology, Kruislaan 320, 1098 SM Amsterdam, The Netherlands

A pulse amplitude modulated fluorometer (PAM) was used to investigate photosynthetic activity of microphytobenthos on an intertidal mudflat. Spectral irradiance measurements indicate that 75% of the signal detectable by the PAM originates in the upper 150 µm of the sediment. From the photosynthetic electron transport rate (ETR) measurements, it was concluded that the PAM could be used to observe changes in photosynthetic parameters during the day or the season. Photoacclimation to lower irradiance was indicated by changes in the maximum ETR and the saturating photon irradiance parameter Ik. When cores were exposed to a high photon irradiance for several hours, vertical migration could be followed using reflectance spectra. The data also showed that the benthic algae did not seem to experience photoinhibition or CO2 limitation. To explain this, it is hypothesised that there is a continuous vertical migration in the top layer of the sediment, where algae can avoid photoinhibition due to prolonged periods of high irradiance and lack of CO2 by migrating downwards while others migrate upwards.


Microphytobenthos · Chlorophyll fluorescence · Photosynthesis · Vertical migration · C-limitation


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