Photon Fluence Rate and Temperature Effects on Temperate Atlantic Kelp Species
The Portuguese coast forms a key biogeographic transition zone where co-occurring kelp species show limited vertical overlap. This study aimed to understand whether temperature and light responses help explain the vertical niche differentiation of <i>Laminaria ochroleuca</i>, <i>Sa...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Phycology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9410/5/2/27 |
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| author | Tomás F. Pinheiro Silvia Chemello Isabel Sousa-Pinto Tânia R. Pereira |
| author_facet | Tomás F. Pinheiro Silvia Chemello Isabel Sousa-Pinto Tânia R. Pereira |
| author_sort | Tomás F. Pinheiro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Portuguese coast forms a key biogeographic transition zone where co-occurring kelp species show limited vertical overlap. This study aimed to understand whether temperature and light responses help explain the vertical niche differentiation of <i>Laminaria ochroleuca</i>, <i>Saccorhiza polyschides</i>, and <i>Phyllariopsis brevipes</i>. Results revealed that <i>P. brevipes</i>, despite occupying the southernmost range, showed a low thermal tolerance: 27 °C significantly increased respiration rates, indicating metabolic stress, and exposition at 30 °C caused physiological stress. In contrast, <i>L. ochroleuca</i> and <i>S. polyschides</i> exhibited a greater thermal resilience but displayed high light requirements, with evident stress at 30 °C. These results suggest that light availability may play a key role in shaping vertical zonation in a climate warming scenario, with species adapted to low light occupying deeper subtidal zones. <i>S. polyschides</i>, a high light-requiring species, dominates the shallow subtidal region, while <i>L. ochroleuca</i>, also high light-requiring and temperature-tolerant, is abundant in both intertidal pools and shallow subtidal habitats. These findings raise new hypotheses regarding future distribution patterns under climate change: while <i>L. ochroleuca</i> may continue expanding polewards and potentially replace other <i>Laminaria</i> spp. at shallow depths, low-light-adapted, cold-water species may retain a competitive advantage in deeper zones. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-67e74c0fa56d4dbd85a2937e05efc53f |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2673-9410 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Phycology |
| spelling | doaj-art-67e74c0fa56d4dbd85a2937e05efc53f2025-08-20T03:16:36ZengMDPI AGPhycology2673-94102025-06-01522710.3390/phycology5020027Photon Fluence Rate and Temperature Effects on Temperate Atlantic Kelp SpeciesTomás F. Pinheiro0Silvia Chemello1Isabel Sousa-Pinto2Tânia R. Pereira3Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), University of Porto, Novo Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, PortugalInterdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), University of Porto, Novo Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, PortugalInterdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), University of Porto, Novo Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, PortugalInterdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), University of Porto, Novo Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, PortugalThe Portuguese coast forms a key biogeographic transition zone where co-occurring kelp species show limited vertical overlap. This study aimed to understand whether temperature and light responses help explain the vertical niche differentiation of <i>Laminaria ochroleuca</i>, <i>Saccorhiza polyschides</i>, and <i>Phyllariopsis brevipes</i>. Results revealed that <i>P. brevipes</i>, despite occupying the southernmost range, showed a low thermal tolerance: 27 °C significantly increased respiration rates, indicating metabolic stress, and exposition at 30 °C caused physiological stress. In contrast, <i>L. ochroleuca</i> and <i>S. polyschides</i> exhibited a greater thermal resilience but displayed high light requirements, with evident stress at 30 °C. These results suggest that light availability may play a key role in shaping vertical zonation in a climate warming scenario, with species adapted to low light occupying deeper subtidal zones. <i>S. polyschides</i>, a high light-requiring species, dominates the shallow subtidal region, while <i>L. ochroleuca</i>, also high light-requiring and temperature-tolerant, is abundant in both intertidal pools and shallow subtidal habitats. These findings raise new hypotheses regarding future distribution patterns under climate change: while <i>L. ochroleuca</i> may continue expanding polewards and potentially replace other <i>Laminaria</i> spp. at shallow depths, low-light-adapted, cold-water species may retain a competitive advantage in deeper zones.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9410/5/2/27geographical distribution<i>Laminaria ochroleuca</i><i>Phyllariopsis brevipes</i><i>Saccorhiza polyschides</i>temperaturelight exposure |
| spellingShingle | Tomás F. Pinheiro Silvia Chemello Isabel Sousa-Pinto Tânia R. Pereira Photon Fluence Rate and Temperature Effects on Temperate Atlantic Kelp Species Phycology geographical distribution <i>Laminaria ochroleuca</i> <i>Phyllariopsis brevipes</i> <i>Saccorhiza polyschides</i> temperature light exposure |
| title | Photon Fluence Rate and Temperature Effects on Temperate Atlantic Kelp Species |
| title_full | Photon Fluence Rate and Temperature Effects on Temperate Atlantic Kelp Species |
| title_fullStr | Photon Fluence Rate and Temperature Effects on Temperate Atlantic Kelp Species |
| title_full_unstemmed | Photon Fluence Rate and Temperature Effects on Temperate Atlantic Kelp Species |
| title_short | Photon Fluence Rate and Temperature Effects on Temperate Atlantic Kelp Species |
| title_sort | photon fluence rate and temperature effects on temperate atlantic kelp species |
| topic | geographical distribution <i>Laminaria ochroleuca</i> <i>Phyllariopsis brevipes</i> <i>Saccorhiza polyschides</i> temperature light exposure |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9410/5/2/27 |
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