Book contents
- Evolutionary Physiology of Algae and Aquatic Plants
- Evolutionary Physiology of Algae and Aquatic Plants
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Contributors
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- 1 Environmental Changes Impacting on, and Caused by, the Evolution of Photosynthetic Organisms
- Part I Origins and Consequences of Early Photosynthetic Organisms
- Part II Physiology of Photosynthetic Autotrophs in Present-Day Environments
- 7 Light as a Major Driver of Algal Physiology and Evolution
- 8 Temperature: Still an Enigmatic Driver in the Evolution and Physiology of Algae
- 9 Nutrient Acquisition by Algae and Aquatic Embryophytes
- 10 Salinity
- 11 Desiccation
- 12 Trait Trade-Offs in Mixoplankton: An Analysis
- 13 Effects of Pollutants on Microalgae
- 14 Algae in Extreme and Unusual Environments
- Part III The Future
- Index
- References
8 - Temperature: Still an Enigmatic Driver in the Evolution and Physiology of Algae
from Part II - Physiology of Photosynthetic Autotrophs in Present-Day Environments
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 October 2024
- Evolutionary Physiology of Algae and Aquatic Plants
- Evolutionary Physiology of Algae and Aquatic Plants
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Contributors
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- 1 Environmental Changes Impacting on, and Caused by, the Evolution of Photosynthetic Organisms
- Part I Origins and Consequences of Early Photosynthetic Organisms
- Part II Physiology of Photosynthetic Autotrophs in Present-Day Environments
- 7 Light as a Major Driver of Algal Physiology and Evolution
- 8 Temperature: Still an Enigmatic Driver in the Evolution and Physiology of Algae
- 9 Nutrient Acquisition by Algae and Aquatic Embryophytes
- 10 Salinity
- 11 Desiccation
- 12 Trait Trade-Offs in Mixoplankton: An Analysis
- 13 Effects of Pollutants on Microalgae
- 14 Algae in Extreme and Unusual Environments
- Part III The Future
- Index
- References
Summary
Unicellular phototrophs inhabit ecological niches ranging from extremely cold environments in polar or glacier regions to hot springs. This extremely broad spectrum of temperature tolerance is the consequence of specific adaptation responses acquired during evolution. The molecular mechanisms required to maintain high physiological activity under natural temperature conditions are not completely understood. Temperature adaptation in phototrophs is an important issue in algal biotechnology, as well as in climate prediction, because the algal response to an increased earth surface temperature strongly influences the global carbon budget. In this chapter, the mechanisms of temperature acclimation are summarised to identify potential targets for biotechnology or for improved climate prediction.
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- Evolutionary Physiology of Algae and Aquatic Plants , pp. 136 - 150Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2024