Photosynthesis and respiration in five species of benthic foraminifera that host algal symbionts

113 Pages·2015·2.03 MB·English

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USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations USF Graduate Theses and Dissertations
5-27-2004
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Robert A. Walker
University of South Florida
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Walker, Robert A., "Photosynthesis and Respiration in Five Species of Benthic Foraminifera that Host Algal
Symbionts" (2004). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
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Photosynthesis and Respiration in Five Species of Benthic Foraminifera that Host Algal

Symbionts

by

Robert A. Walker

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Science
College of Marine Science
University of South Florida

Major Professor: Pamela Hallock Muller Ph.D.
Gabriel Vargo Ph.D.
Joseph Torres Ph.D.

Date of Approval:
May 27, 2004

Keywords: Archaias, Cyclorbiculina, Amphistegina, metabolism, irradiance

© Copyright 2004, Robert A. Walker
Acknowledgements

Aspects of this research were supported by grants from the National Science Foundation
OCE-92-3278 and CHE-0221834, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s
National Undersea Research Program Subcontracts No. 9120, 9204.4, 9221, 9322, 9515,
9609, 9703.66 and 9922, by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-ORD-STAR-
GAD-R825869; and by South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium Project No. R/MB-2.
Table of Contents

List of Tables iii

List of Figures vi

Abstract viii

Introduction 1
Taxa Studied 2
Estimating Photosynthesis and Respiration 6
Thesis Objectives 9

Methods 11
Collection and Storage of Specimens 11
Photosynthesis and Respiration Trials 14
Chlorophyll Extraction 17
Data Analysis 17

Results 21
Archaias angulatus 21
Cyclorbiculina compressa 26
Amphistegina gibbosa 32
Amphistegina lessonii 37
Amphistegina radiata 40

Discussion 45
Photosynthesis in Symbiotic relationships 47
Photosynthetic Efficiency 52
Irradiance Measures 55
Photosynthesis and Irradiance Raw Data 59
Photoinhibition 62
Respiration 63
Symbiont Bearing Foraminifers as Primary Producers 65
Recommendations for Future Research 68

Conclusion 70

References 72
i
Appendices 79
Appendix A 80
Appendix B 83
Appendix C 87
Appendix D 93
Appendix E 97

ii
List of Tables

Table 1. Dates, locations, and depths of collection of foraminifers
used in this study. 12

Table 2. Physical parameters of Archaias angulatus 21

Table 3. Derived photosynthetic parameters normalized to Chl a for
Archaias angulatus 24

Table 4. Derived photosynthetic parameters normalized to surface
area for Archaias angulatus 24

Table 5. Physical parameters of Cyclorbiculina compressa 27

Table 6. Derived photosynthetic parameters normalized to Chl a for
Cyclorbiculina compressa 30

Table 7. Derived photosynthetic parameters normalized to surface
area for Cyclorbiculina compressa 30

Table 8. Physical parameters of Amphistegina gibbosa 33

Table 9. Derived photosynthetic parameters normalized to Chl a for
Amphistegina gibbosa 34

Table 10. Derived photosynthetic parameters normalized to surface
area for Amphistegina gibbosa 35

Table 11. Physical parameters of Amphistegina lessonii 37

Table 12. Derived photosynthetic parameters normalized to Chl a for
Amphistegina lessonii 39

Table 13. Derived photosynthetic parameters normalized to surface
area for Amphistegina lessonii 39

Table 14. Physical parameters of Amphistegina radiata 41

iii
Table 15. Derived photosynthetic parameters normalized to Chl a for
Amphistegina radiata 43

Table 16. Derived photosynthetic parameters normalized to surface
area for Amphistegina radiata 43

Table 17. Annual primary production of A. angulatus, C. compressa
and Amphistegina lessonii 67

Table A-1. Physical characteristics of Archaias angulatus 78

Table A-2. Chlorophyll a extraction Archaias angulatus 78

Table A-3. Oxygen Production at experimental light intensities
Archaias angulatus (nmoles hr-1 ug Chl a-1 ) 79

Table A-4. Oxygen Production at experimental light intensities
Archaias angulatus (nmoles hr-1 mm-2) 80

Table A-5. Metabolic scope and factorial metabolic scope for Archaias
angulatus 81

Table A-6. Derived parameters from Photosynthesis/Irradiance curves
for Archaias angulatus 81

Table B-1. Physical characteristics of Cyclorbiculina compressa 82

Table B-2. Chlorophyll a extraction Cyclorbiculina compressa 82

Table B-3. Oxygen Production at experimental light intensities
Cyclorbiculina compressa (nmoles hr-1 ug Chl a-1 ) 83

Table B-4. Oxygen Production at experimental light intensities
Cyclorbiculina compressa (nmoles hr-1 mm-2) 84

Table B-5. Metabolic scope and factorial metabolic scope for
Cyclorbiculina compressa 85

Table B-6. Derived parameters from Photosynthesis/Irradiance curves
for Cyclorbiculina compressa 85

Table C-1. Physical characteristics of Amphistegina gibbosa 86

Table C-2. Chlorophyll a extraction Amphistegina gibbosa 87

iv
Table C-3. Oxygen Production at experimental light intensities
Amphistegina gibbosa (nmoles hr-1 ug Chl a-1 ) 89

Table C-4. Oxygen Production at experimental light intensities
Amphistegina gibbosa (nmoles hr-1 mm-2) 90

Table C-5. Metabolic scope and factorial metabolic scope for
Amphistegina gibbosa 91

Table C-6. Derived parameters from Photosynthesis/Irradiance curves
for Amphistegina gibbosa 91

Table D-1. Physical characteristics of Amphistegina lessonii 92

Table D-2. Chlorophyll a extraction Amphistegina lessonii 92

Table D-3. Oxygen Production at experimental light intensities
Amphistegina lessonii (nmoles hr-1 ug Chl a-1 ) 94

Table D-4. Oxygen Production at experimental light intensities
Amphistegina lessonii (nmoles hr-1 mm-2) 94

Table D-5. Metabolic scope and factorial metabolic scope for
Amphistegina lessonii 95

Table D-6. Derived parameters from Photosynthesis/Irradiance curves
for Amphistegina lessonii 95

Table E-1. Physical characteristics of Amphistegina radiata 96

Table E-2. Chlorophyll a extraction Amphistegina radiata 96

Table E-3. Oxygen Production at experimental light intensities
Amphistegina radiata (nmoles hr-1 ug Chl a-1 ) 97

Table E-4. Oxygen Production at experimental light intensities
Amphistegina radiata (nmoles hr-1 mm-2) 98

Table E-5. Metabolic scope and factorial metabolic scope for
Amphistegina radiata 99

Table E-6. Derived parameters from Photosynthesis/Irradiance curves
for Amphistegina radiata 99
v
List of Figures

Figure 1. Photographs of all species studied 3

Figure 2. Collection sites of Archaias angulatus (KML),
Cyclorbiculina compressa (Conch Reef) and Amphistegina
gibbosa (Tennessee Reef). 13

Figure 3. Location of Ambitle Island, Papua New Guinea 13

Figure 4. Sample photosynthesis/irradiance curve showing P , α,
max
and I parameters 18
k

Figure 5. Correlation of mass (a) and surface area (b) to Chl a
extracted from individual Archaias angulatus 22

Figure 6. Photosynthesis vs Irradiance normalized to Chl a (Archaias
angulatus) 25

Figure 7. Photosynthesis vs Irradiance normalized to surface area
(Archaias angulatus) 26

Figure 8. Correlation of Mass and Surface Area to Chl a extracted 27

Figure 9. Mean Oxygen production/consumption normalized to Chl a
showing initial increase in oxygen consumption at lowest
light intensity in Cyclorbiculina compressa. 28

Figure 10. Mean Oxygen production/consumption normalized to
surface area showing initial increase in oxygen
consumption at lowest light intensity in Cyclorbiculina
compressa. 29

Figure 11. Photosynthesis vs irradiance normalized to Chl a for
Cyclorbiculina compressa 31

Figure 12. Photosynthesis vs irradiance normalized to surface area
for Cyclorbiculina compressa 32
vi
Figure 13. Correlation of mass (a) and surface area (b) to Chl a
extracted for Amphistegina gibbossa 33

Figure 14. Photosynthesis vs irradiance normalized to Chl a for the
amphisteginid species 35

Figure 15. Photosynthesis vs irradiance normalized to surface area for
the Amphisteginid species 36

Figure 16. Correlation of mass (a) and surface area (b) to Chl a
extracted for A. lessonii 38

Figure 17. Correlation of mass (a) and surface area (b) to Chl a
extracted for A. radiata 41

Figure 18. Photosynthesis vs irradiance normalized to Chl a for all
species 48

Figure 19. Photosynthesis vs irradiance normalized to surface area for
all species 49

Figure 20. Maximum photosynthesis (P ) normalized to Chl a 50
max

Figure 21. Maximum photosynthesis (P ) normalized to surface area 51
max

Figure 22. Chlorophyll a concentration for each species 51

Figure 23. Alpha values for all species normalized to Chl a 54

Figure 24. Alpha values for all species normalized to surface area 54

Figure 25. Irradiance values (I ) at maximum photosynthesis for all
k
species 56

Figure 26. Factorial scope (ratio of post-trial respiration rate to pre-
trial respiration rate) for all species 64

vii