Abstract
Seagrass photosynthesis is usually measured in laboratory experiments, following oxygen evolution in closed chambers. Pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorometry constitutes an alternative and non-intrusive method of measuring photosynthesis in the field. Validation of electron transport rate (ETR) measurements as reliable estimators of actual photosynthetic production requires that a significant linear relationship between oxygen production and ETR is demonstrated, and also that a 0.25 molar ratio between these two measures is verified. In this work, both parameters were measured simultaneously in laboratory experiments, over a range of light intensities, under well-defined and controlled conditions. A linear relationship was observed between the average rates of oxygen production and the electron transport rates for Zostera noltii (Hornemann) obtained at several irradiances. The molar ratio found between oxygen production and ETR was 0.15±0.02, lower than the theoretically expected value of 0.25. The use of PAM fluorescence as a valid proxy for photosynthetic production was validated for the range of 35–490 μmol photons m −2 s −1 (PAR), under the assumption that the electron sinks responsible for the molar ratio deviation remain constant in similar experimental conditions.
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