INVESTIGADORES
BAFFICO Gustavo Daniel
artículos
Título:
Photosynthetic performance associated with phosphorus availability in mats of Didymosphenia geminata (Bacillariophyceae) from Patagonia (Argentina and Chile)
Autor/es:
BEAMUD, S.G.; BAFFICO, G.; REID, B.; TORRES, R.; GONZALEZ-POLO, M.; PEDROZO, F.; DIAZ, M.
Revista:
PHYCOLOGIA
Editorial:
INT PHYCOLOGICAL SOC
Referencias:
Lugar: Lawrence; Año: 2016 vol. 55 p. 118 - 125
ISSN:
0031-8884
Resumen:
Recently reported blooms of Didymosphenia geminata from rivers in Argentinean and Chilean Patagonia, together with non-typical blooms reported from lake systems, have the potential to alter community and ecosystem dynamics of aquatic environments in the region. In an effort to quantify key aspects of ecosystem function of D. geminata mats in Patagonia, we describe for the first time photosynthesis-irradiance (P-E) curves of this species, associated P-E parameters (R, Pmax and alpha), and their relationship to other functional (APA enzyme activity and chlorophyll a) and environmental variables (soluble reactive and organic phosphorous, electrical conductivity). Mats of D. geminata from lakes and rivers representing east and west sides of the Andes from 40-46° S (i.e. much of current known distribution) varied mostly in the alpha and Pmax parameters of P-E curves. Southern systems showed a higher alpha and lower Pmax parameters than more northern sites on the east slope of the cordillera. None of the P-E curves showed photoinhibition. P-E parameters for the two lakes fell within the range of values for riverine mats, although soluble reactive P was notably higher in the lakes. We used two different statistical approaches to evaluate associations across environmental, functional or P-E parameters, finding a strong relation between APA and Pmax and a weak one between SRP, pH, DOP and functional parameters. Our results do not contradict previous observations on the importance of P availability in D. geminata communities, although the variability in response across P-E parameters suggests a more complex mechanism of regulation than implied in the existing literature.