Physiological characterisation of the calcified alga Corallina officinalis (Rhodophyta) from the leading to trailing edge in the Northeast Atlantic

Abstract

Intertidal macroalgae are exposed to many biotic and abiotic stressors, including significant fluctuations in environmental parameters such as salinity, temperature, pH and solar radiation. This study characterized populations of the intertidal calcifying red alga Corallina officinalis across its geographic distribution in the North-east Atlantic. Processes examined included primary production, respiration, light and dark calcification, photosynthesis-irradiance, and calcification-irradiance evolution. Results confirmed significant differences in the physiology of C. officinalis between latitudes with a clear north-to-south gradient. Compared with central and southern populations of this species, northern populations appeared to be the most robust, showing potential for local physiological adaptation in response to increased variability in environmental factors present within their habitat. Conversely, southern populations displayed a distinct lack of local adaptation compared with northern populations. This is possibly due to southern populations being located within an environment at the upper limit of their stress tolerance, therefore restricting the species’ ability to adapt. As a result, future permanent decline, or even disappearance, of C. officinalis within southern locations of the North-east Atlantic could occur, a process that is likely to be accelerated by predicted future climatic changes. Furthermore, given the essential role these ecosystem engineers play within their habitat, any loss of C. officinalis is also expected to have a strongly negative impact on the surrounding environment. HIGHLIGHTS Decoupled photosynthesis and calcification in Corallina. officinalis show complex relationships, not direct dependencies. Most physiological characteristics in northern C. officinalis populations differ significantly from those in central and southern locations. Species adaptation is predominantly to lower light and temperature conditions.