Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-v9fdk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T15:45:02.192Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A simple incubation tank for photosynthesis measurements with six light intensities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 August 2009

Viktor R. Tóth*
Affiliation:
Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Balaton Limnological Research Institute, Klebelsberg K.u. 3, Tihany, 8237, Hungary
Sándor Herodek
Affiliation:
Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Balaton Limnological Research Institute, Klebelsberg K.u. 3, Tihany, 8237, Hungary
Get access

Abstract

The aim of the study was to design and put together a compact, easy-to-assemble and cost-efficient incubation system for aquatic plant photosynthesis measurements. Incubation tank consisting of glass sidewalls and mirror inner walls was constructed. The tank was split into six incubation cells and two water collecting cells. Each incubation cell was built of mirror with reflective side turned into the incubation cells to prevent the self shading of plants and minimized the variance of light intensity within the cell. The wall of each incubation cell facing the source of light was made of 3 mm glass and was covered by light absorbing film. To produce different light intensities single light source (fluorescent tubes) and light absorbing film (3M Scotchtint™ Sun Control RE50NEARL) were chosen. The sidewall of each incubation cell was covered with metal-coated neutral sun control film to produce six distinct light intensities. The different transparency of the sidewalls was achieved by lamination of the chosen film in increasing numbers of layers. The effect of the lamination on optical properties of the film was also studied. The variation of photon flux density within a cell was 3.9%. Continuous use of the system and occasional repetitive measurements of film's transparency showed that it maintained its neutral optical properties over a long period of time.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© EDP Sciences, 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Adams M.S., Titus J. and McCrackenM., 1974. Depth distribution of photosynthetic activity in a Myriophyllum spicatum community in Lake Wingra. Limnol. Oceanogr., 19, 377–389.
Asaeda, T., Sultana, M., Manatunge, J. and Fujino, T., 2004. The effect of epiphytic algae on the growth and production of Potamogeton perfoliatus L. in two light conditions. Environ. Exp. Bot. , 52, 225238. CrossRef
Björkman O. and Demmig-Adams B., 1994. Regulation of Photosynthetic Light Energy Capture, Conversion, and Dissipation in Leaves of Higher Plants. In: Schulze E.D. and Caldwell M.M. (eds.), Ecophysiology of Photosynthesis, Ecological Studies, 100, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 17 p.
Cedergreen N., Andersen L., Olesen C.F., Spliid H.H. and Streibig J.C., 2005. Does the effect of herbicide pulse exposure on aquatic plants depend on Kow or mode of action? Aquat Toxicol., 71, 261–271.
Eggert A., Van Hasselt P.R. and Breeman A.M., 2003. Chilling-induced photoinhibition in nine isolates of Valonia utricularis (Chlorophyta) from different climate regions. J. Plant Physiol., 160, 881–891.
Jones J.I., 2005. The metabolic cost of bicarbonate use in the submerged plant Elodea nuttallii. Aquat. Bot., 83, 371–381.
Kamara Sh. and Pflugmacher S., 2007. Phragmites australis and Quercus robur leaf extracts affect antioxidative system and photosynthesis of Ceratophyllum demersum. Ecotox. Environ. Safe., 67, 240–246.
Kirk J.T.O., 1996. Light and photosynthesis in aquatic ecosystems, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 44 p.
Lambert, S.J., Thomas, K.V. and Davy, A.J., 2006. Assessment of the risk posed by the antifouling booster biocides Irgarol 1051 and diuron to freshwater macrophytes. Chemosphere , 63, 734743. CrossRef
Larcher W., 2003. Physiological Plant Ecology – Ecophysiology and Stress Physiology of Functional Groups, 4th edition, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 107 p.
Maberly, S.C., 1983. The interdependence of photon irradiance and free carbon dioxide or bicarbonate concentration on the photosynthetic compensation points of freshwater plants. New Phytol. , 93, 112. CrossRef
Maberly, S.C. and Madsen, T.V., 1998. Affinity for CO2 in relation to the ability of freshwater macrophytes to use HCO3 . Funct. Ecol. , 12, 99106. CrossRef
Machova K., Elster J. and Adamec L., 2008. Xanthophyceaen assemblages during winter-spring flood: autecology and ecophysiology of Tribonema fonticolum and T. monochloron. Hydrobiologia, 600, 155–168.
Madsen, T.V. and Sand-Jensen, K., 1991. Photosynthetic carbon assimilation in aquatic plants. Aquat. Bot. , 41, 540. CrossRef
Madsen, T.V., Maberly, S.C. and Bowes, G., 1996. Photosynthetic acclimation of submerged angiosperms to CO2 and HCO3. Aquat. Bot. , 53, 1530. CrossRef
Nyström, B., Van Slooten, K.B., Bérard, A., Grandjean, D., Druart, J.C. and Leboulanger, C., 2002. Toxic effects of Irgarol 1051 on phytoplankton and macrophytes in Lake Geneva. Water Res. , 36, 20202028. CrossRef
Platt T.C., Gallegos L. and Harrison W.G., 1980. Photoinhibition of photosynthesis in natural assemblages of marine phytoplankton. J. Mar. Res., 38, 687–701.
Sand-Jensen, K., 1977. Effect of epiphytes on eelgrass photosynthesis. Aquat. Bot. , 3, 5563. CrossRef
Sand-Jensen, K., 1989. Environmental variables and their effect on photosynthesis of aquatic plant communities. General features of aquatic photosynthesis. Aquat. Bot. , 34, 525. CrossRef
Sand-Jensen, K. and Madsen, T.V., 1991. Minimum light requirements of submerged freshwater macrophytes in laboratory growth experiments. J. Ecol. , 79, 749764. CrossRef
Schwarz, A.-M. and Howard-Williams, C., 1993. Aquatic weed-bed structure and photosynthesis in two New Zealand lakes. Aquat. Bot. , 46, 263281. CrossRef
Shen H. and Song L., 2007. Comparative studies on physiological responses to phosphorus in two phenotypes of bloom-forming Microcystis. Hydrobiologia, 592, 475–486.
Short, F.T. and Neckles, H.A., 1999. The effects of global climate change on seagrasses. Aquat. Bot. , 63, 169196. CrossRef
Silva J., Santos R., Calleja M.L. and Duarte C.M., 2005. Submerged versus air-exposed intertidal macrophyte productivity: from physiological to community-level assessments. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol., 317, 87– 95.
Van Duin, E.H.S., Blom, G., Los, F.J., Maffione, R., Zimmerman, R., Cerco, C.F., Dortch, M. and Best, E.P.H., 2001. Modeling underwater light climate in relation to sedimentation, resuspension, water quality and autotrophic growth. Hydrobiologia , 444, 2542. CrossRef
Vermaat, J.E. and Verhagen, F.C.A., 1996. Seasonal variation in the intertidal seagrass Zostera noltii Hornem.: coupling demographic and physiological patterns. Aquat. Bot. , 52, 259281. CrossRef
Wang, W. and Freemark, K., 1995. The use of plants for environmental monitoring and assessment. Ecotox. Environ. Safe. , 30, 289301. CrossRef
Wetzel R.G., 2001. Limnology: lake and river ecosystems, 3rd edition, Academic Press, London, 49 p.