Thermal acclimation in the marine diatom Chaetoceros calcitrans (Bacillariophyceae)

Thermal acclimation following changes from 6 °C to 15 °C and from 15 °C to 25 °C was investigated in the diatom Chaetoceros calcitrans. Cell division rate increased with temperature. Cellular carbon showed a slight decrease with an increase in temperature from 6 °C to 15 °C but showed no further change with an increase to 25 °C. Cells grown at 6 °C had low levels of light-harvesting components and a high carotenoid to chlorophyll a (Chla) ratio due to an increase in abundance of photoprotective pigments. The abundance of light-harvesting pigments increased with temperature and this was mirrored by a decrease in carotenoid:Chla ratio. All pigments showed an immediate change in abundance following each temperature shift. However, changes in photoprotective pigments reached a plateau after 12 h, in contrast to the light-harvesting pigments that took 4 days to become acclimated. Light-saturated rates of photosynthesis were at a minimum at 6 °C and increased twofold with temperature between 6 °C and 25 °C. Light-limited photosynthesis showed little change with temperature. It is suggested that, at low temperatures, the rate of carbon fixation is impaired due to a decrease in the activity of photosynthetic enzymes. This imparts an increase in excitation pressure due to an imbalance between light absorption and utilization. Cells respond to this by decreasing their light-harvesting capacity and increasing their ability to dissipate the excess energy. This fairly rapid regulation may be ecologically advantageous in areas where there are transient temperature changes.