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Estimation of neutral lipid levels in Antarctic sea ice microalgae by nile red fluorescence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 May 2004

John C. Priscu ,
Linda R. Priscu ,
Anna C. Palmisano  and
Cornelius W. Sullivan
John C. Priscu
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 59717 USA
Linda R. Priscu
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 59717 USA
Anna C. Palmisano
Affiliation:
Environmental Safety Department, Procter and Gamble Company, Ivorydale Technical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45217 USA
Cornelius W. Sullivan
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089-0371 USA
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Abstract

The fluorescent neutral lipid stain, nile red, was used to examine cell-specific neutral lipid levels in natural assemblages of Antarctic sea ice microalgae. Neutral lipid:chlorophyll, neutral lipid:particulate carbon (PC) and neutral lipid:particulate nitrogen (PN) ratios were highest in communities dominated by Nitzschia spp. and Navicula glaciei van Heurck. The lowest specific neutral lipid content was estimated in the congelation ice samples dominated by the diatom Amphiprora spp., and in surface assemblages dominated by Phaeocystis pouchetii Hariot and the dinoflagellate Gymnodinium sp. Scatter plots of neutral lipid on PC and PN, which included data from all assemblages, showed that assemblages dominated by P. pouchetii and Amphiprora spp. clustered near the origin reflecting their relatively lower specific neutral lipid levels, compared with assemblages dominated by N. glaciei and Nitzschia spp. Cellular PC:PN was significantly (P<0.001) lower in microalgae inhabiting surface melt pools or tide cracks compared to those associated with congelation or platelet ice.

Keywords

physiological statemicroalgaeneutral lipidsnile red
Type
Papers—Life Sciences and Oceanography
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 2 , Issue 2 , June 1990 , pp. 149 - 155
Copyright
© Antarctic Science Ltd 1990

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