The Benthic Underwater Microscope imaging PAM (BUMP): A non‐invasive tool for in situ assessment of microstructure and photosynthetic efficiency

Abstract Essential to life on Earth, assessment of marine photosynthesis is of paramount importance. Photosynthesis occurs in spatially discrete microscopic entities at various levels of biological organization, from subcellular chloroplasts to symbiotic microalgae and macroalgae, and is influenced ...

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Main Authors: Or Ben‐Zvi, Paul Roberts, Devin Ratelle, Joseph Snider, Pichaya Lertvilai, Daniel Wangpraseurt, Dimitri D. Deheyn, Jennifer E. Smith, Jules S. Jaffe
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-08-01
Series:Methods in Ecology and Evolution
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.70078
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author Or Ben‐Zvi
Paul Roberts
Devin Ratelle
Joseph Snider
Pichaya Lertvilai
Daniel Wangpraseurt
Dimitri D. Deheyn
Jennifer E. Smith
Jules S. Jaffe
author_facet Or Ben‐Zvi
Paul Roberts
Devin Ratelle
Joseph Snider
Pichaya Lertvilai
Daniel Wangpraseurt
Dimitri D. Deheyn
Jennifer E. Smith
Jules S. Jaffe
author_sort Or Ben‐Zvi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Essential to life on Earth, assessment of marine photosynthesis is of paramount importance. Photosynthesis occurs in spatially discrete microscopic entities at various levels of biological organization, from subcellular chloroplasts to symbiotic microalgae and macroalgae, and is influenced by the surrounding conditions. As such, in situ photosynthetic efficiency mapping on appropriate scales holds great promise for learning about these processes. To achieve this goal, we designed, fabricated, and tested an underwater microscope that incorporates standard colour, epifluorescence, and variable chlorophyll a fluorescence imaging with nearly micron spatial resolution that resolves the structure and photosynthetic efficiency of benthic organisms. Our results highlight coral observations with high‐resolution photosynthetic spatial variability and detailed morphology. Our imaging system therefore enables research never before possible on the health and physiology of benthic aquatic organisms in situ, placing it in the context of their physical and biological environment.
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spelling doaj-art-d80d82ec471c4956852d37ff19987b9f2025-08-20T04:02:09ZengWileyMethods in Ecology and Evolution2041-210X2025-08-011681617162410.1111/2041-210X.70078The Benthic Underwater Microscope imaging PAM (BUMP): A non‐invasive tool for in situ assessment of microstructure and photosynthetic efficiencyOr Ben‐Zvi0Paul Roberts1Devin Ratelle2Joseph Snider3Pichaya Lertvilai4Daniel Wangpraseurt5Dimitri D. Deheyn6Jennifer E. Smith7Jules S. Jaffe8Marine Physical Lab, Scripps Institution of Oceanography University of California San Diego La Jolla California USAMarine Physical Lab, Scripps Institution of Oceanography University of California San Diego La Jolla California USAMarine Physical Lab, Scripps Institution of Oceanography University of California San Diego La Jolla California USAMarine Physical Lab, Scripps Institution of Oceanography University of California San Diego La Jolla California USAMarine Physical Lab, Scripps Institution of Oceanography University of California San Diego La Jolla California USAMarine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography University of California San Diego La Jolla California USAMarine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography University of California San Diego La Jolla California USAMarine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography University of California San Diego La Jolla California USAMarine Physical Lab, Scripps Institution of Oceanography University of California San Diego La Jolla California USAAbstract Essential to life on Earth, assessment of marine photosynthesis is of paramount importance. Photosynthesis occurs in spatially discrete microscopic entities at various levels of biological organization, from subcellular chloroplasts to symbiotic microalgae and macroalgae, and is influenced by the surrounding conditions. As such, in situ photosynthetic efficiency mapping on appropriate scales holds great promise for learning about these processes. To achieve this goal, we designed, fabricated, and tested an underwater microscope that incorporates standard colour, epifluorescence, and variable chlorophyll a fluorescence imaging with nearly micron spatial resolution that resolves the structure and photosynthetic efficiency of benthic organisms. Our results highlight coral observations with high‐resolution photosynthetic spatial variability and detailed morphology. Our imaging system therefore enables research never before possible on the health and physiology of benthic aquatic organisms in situ, placing it in the context of their physical and biological environment.https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.70078chlorophyllcoralsfluorescenceFv/Fmimaging PAMmicroalgae
spellingShingle Or Ben‐Zvi
Paul Roberts
Devin Ratelle
Joseph Snider
Pichaya Lertvilai
Daniel Wangpraseurt
Dimitri D. Deheyn
Jennifer E. Smith
Jules S. Jaffe
The Benthic Underwater Microscope imaging PAM (BUMP): A non‐invasive tool for in situ assessment of microstructure and photosynthetic efficiency
Methods in Ecology and Evolution
chlorophyll
corals
fluorescence
Fv/Fm
imaging PAM
microalgae
title The Benthic Underwater Microscope imaging PAM (BUMP): A non‐invasive tool for in situ assessment of microstructure and photosynthetic efficiency
title_full The Benthic Underwater Microscope imaging PAM (BUMP): A non‐invasive tool for in situ assessment of microstructure and photosynthetic efficiency
title_fullStr The Benthic Underwater Microscope imaging PAM (BUMP): A non‐invasive tool for in situ assessment of microstructure and photosynthetic efficiency
title_full_unstemmed The Benthic Underwater Microscope imaging PAM (BUMP): A non‐invasive tool for in situ assessment of microstructure and photosynthetic efficiency
title_short The Benthic Underwater Microscope imaging PAM (BUMP): A non‐invasive tool for in situ assessment of microstructure and photosynthetic efficiency
title_sort benthic underwater microscope imaging pam bump a non invasive tool for in situ assessment of microstructure and photosynthetic efficiency
topic chlorophyll
corals
fluorescence
Fv/Fm
imaging PAM
microalgae
url https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.70078
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