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
- Part III The Future
- 15 Aquatic Phototrophs and the Greenhouse Effect
- 16 Ultraviolet Radiation Effects under Climate Change
- 17 Variation in Nutrient Availability for Aquatic Phototrophs and Its Ecological Consequences
- 18 Algae: New Products and Applications
- Index
- References
15 - Aquatic Phototrophs and the Greenhouse Effect
from Part III - The Future
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
- Part III The Future
- 15 Aquatic Phototrophs and the Greenhouse Effect
- 16 Ultraviolet Radiation Effects under Climate Change
- 17 Variation in Nutrient Availability for Aquatic Phototrophs and Its Ecological Consequences
- 18 Algae: New Products and Applications
- Index
- References
Summary
Increases in atmospheric CO2 expected over the next century will cause further global warming and further increases in the CO2 concentration in water bodies and, by equilibration of CO2 with HCO3− - CO32− - H+, increased HCO3− and H+ and decreased CO32−. Warming increases stratification and shoaling of the thermocline; this decreases the supply of nutrients regenerated in deep waters to the upper mixed layer across the thermocline, and increases mean photosynthetically active and UV radiation in the upper mixed layer. Taken separately, these changes can have profound changes on the performance of algae and, because of differences among taxa, in the species composition of primary producer populations. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that the effects of individual components of global change cannot be used as useful predictors of what will happen to aquatic ecosystems into the future and that studies need to take more cognisance of the interactive effects between such factors. There is evidence for genetic adaptation, as well as phenotypic acclimation, in algae exposed to either elevated CO2 or increased temperature. Our understanding of the effects on global change requires further studies into the genetic and acclimation responses of algae exposed to combinations of changed environmental factors.
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- Evolutionary Physiology of Algae and Aquatic Plants , pp. 295 - 314Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2024