Short-term and diurnal temperature changes alter the response of harmful algal blooms of Pseudo-nitzschia pungens to solar ultraviolet radiation

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn this study, we explored the interactive effects of temperature and solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on the growth, pigment contents, photochemical efficiency and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) of Pseudo-nitzschia pungens, which forms harmful algal blooms globally. Cells were first pre-acclimated to temperatures of 20°C, 25°C or 28°C for 10 days. They were then exposed to three different types of solar radiation for 60 min. We then measured the photochemical efficiency of the cells during the 60-min exposure and a 360-min recovery period under dim light (20 μmol photons m−2 s−1). In addition, we analysed the diural change in photochemical efficiency and NPQ over a 10-h period. We found that P. pungens that were exposed to higher temperatures in the short term (i.e. 20–25°C, 20–28°C and 25–28°C) or long term (i.e. 25–25°C and 28–28°C) exhibited lower levels of photoinhibition and faster recovery rates than samples exposed to a lower temperature (i.e. 20–20°C). This indicated that the deleterious effects of UVR can be minimised by both chronic and acute exposure to higher temperatures within the tolerated temperature range for P. pungens.