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The biology of an Antarctic rhodophyte, Palmaria decipiens: recent advances

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2011

Susanne Becker ,
María Liliana Quartino ,
Gabriela Laura Campana ,
Philip Bucolo ,
Christian Wiencke  and
Kai Bischof
Susanne Becker*
Affiliation:
Department of Marine Botany, University of Bremen, Leobener Str. NW2, 28359 Bremen, Germany
María Liliana Quartino
Affiliation:
Argentinean Antarctic Institute, Department of Coastal Biology, Cerrito 1248, (1010AAZ) Buenos Aires, Argentina
Gabriela Laura Campana
Affiliation:
Argentinean Antarctic Institute, Department of Coastal Biology, Cerrito 1248, (1010AAZ) Buenos Aires, Argentina National University of Luján, Department of Basic Sciences (PIEA), Rutas 5 y 7 (6700) Luján, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Philip Bucolo
Affiliation:
1300 University Boulevard, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294-1170, USA
Christian Wiencke
Affiliation:
Alfred Wegener Institute, Am Handelshafen 12, PO Box 120161, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
Kai Bischof
Affiliation:
Department of Marine Botany, University of Bremen, Leobener Str. NW2, 28359 Bremen, Germany
*
[email protected]
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Abstract

Palmaria decipiens (Reinsch) R.W. Ricker (1987) represents one of the dominant rhodophyte species in Antarctic coastal ecosystems. Due to its high abundance in the intertidal and upper subtidal it plays a key role in ecosystem structure and function, providing habitat, food and shelter for a multitude of associated organisms. The physiology, reproductive strategy and life cycle of P. decipiens is considered as being well adapted to the Antarctic environment, which is characterized by permanent low water temperatures and a strong seasonality in light climate. With its obvious ecological significance and adaptive strategies P. decipiens was frequently studied as a typical representative of an endemic Antarctic macroalga. Here we provide an overview of the recent literature, summarizing the knowledge gained about the alga during the last 25 years. This review focuses on the species life cycle and physiological responses, such as temperature requirements, photosynthetic characteristics, pigment content and protective mechanisms with regard to enhanced ultraviolet radiation (UV-B radiation, 280–315 nm and UV-A radiation, 315–400 nm). The ecology of P. decipiens is reviewed focussing on grazing activity and abundance patterns. Since most studies on P. decipiens have been conducted at King George Island off the western Antarctic Peninsula this overview serves as a summary of baseline data from an ecosystem particularly prone to environmental change.

Keywords

coastal ecologyKing George IslandPalmarialesphysiologyred algae
Type
Review
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 23 , Issue 5 , October 2011 , pp. 419 - 430
Copyright
Copyright © Antarctic Science Ltd 2011

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