Effects of ultraviolet and photosynthetically active radiation on five seagrass species

Five seagrass species Halophila ovalis (R.Br) Hook. f., Halodule uninervis (Forsk.) Aschers., Zostera capricorni Aschers., Cymodocea serrulata (R.Br) Aschers. (ed.) and Syringodium isoetifolium (Aschers.) Dandy] from Moreton Bay, Australia, were grown under increased (+25%) and ambient levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and various morphological and physiological responses were examined. Leaf fluorescence ratio (variable:maximum fluorescence) in conjunction with xanthophyll pigment content (violaxanthin, antheraxanthin and zeaxanthin) were used as a measure of photosynthetic efficiency. In addition, absorbance in the UV spectrum, chlorophyll content and chloroplast density were used as indicators of photosynthetic capacity. The seagrass species examined had varying degrees of sensitivity to UV radiation. Halophila ovalis and Halodule uninervis were the most sensitive species, exhibiting the largest decrease in photosynthetic efficiency and chloroplast density and the smallest increase in UV-blocking pigments in response to UV radiation. The more UV-tolerant species, Z. capricorni, C. serrulata and S. isoetifolium, were only significantly affected by increased levels of UV radiation, showing a gradual decline in photosynthetic efficiency and chloroplast density and the largest increases in UV-blocking pigment. UV sensitivity corresponded with leaf morphology, with thicker leaves (as in Z. capricorni, C. serrulata and S. isoetifolium) providing greater morphological protection for UV-sensitive organelles. Not all species were significantly affected by increasing PAR, with decreases in fluorescence ratio and increases in zeaxanthin content observed only in C. serrulata and S. isoetifolium. Sensitivity to PAR corresponded with morphological plasticity; species exhibiting a wide range of growth forms (e.g. Halophila ovalis, Halodule uninervis and Z. capricorni) were the least sensitive to increases in PAR. Seagrass depth-distributions in Moreton Bay appear to be influenced by species sensitivity to UV radiation and PAR, with other factors such as epiphytes, shading and nutrients also affecting species' tolerance. All species were affected to some degree by UV radiation, thus future changes in UV intensity may have repercussions on the distribution of seagrasses.