Nitrate and phosphate uptake of morphologically distinct calcified macroalgae

Abstract

Calcified macroalgae are essential components of marine ecosystem, yet much of their physiology remains to be understood. Here, the nutrient (NO3– and PO4–3) uptake physiologies of two branched macroalgae, Actinotrichia fragilis (Nemaliophycidae) and Amphiroa fragilissima (Corallinophycidae), and the non-geniculate rhodolith Sporolithon sp. (Corallinophycidae) were examined. Sporolithon sp. had the lowest uptake rate through time and the three calcified macroalgae had a surge in NO3– and PO4–3 uptake that occurred between 3 and 20 min, with a maximum uptake at 3 min, after which the nutrient uptake rates declined. The NO3– uptake of the three calcified macroalgae followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics. For NO3– uptake, Sporolithon sp. had the lowest Km (2.72 ± 0.97 µM), Vmax (0.08 ± 0.01 µmol gDW–1 h–1), Vmax/Km (0.05 ± 0.03 µmol gDW–1 h–1 µM−1) and α (0.01 ± 0.00 µmol gDW–1 h–1 µM−1), while A. fragilis had the highest Km (12.35 ± 0.71 µM) and Vmax (6.41 ± 0.23 µmol gDW–1 h–1), and A. fragilissima had the highest Vmax/Km (1.52 ± 0.26 µmol gDW–1 h–1 µM−1) and α (0.37 ± 0.01 µmol gDW–1 h–1 µM−1). Moreover, the PO4–3 uptake rate of the three species was faster at higher PO4–3 levels. These differences in species-specific nutrient uptake traits are likely caused by differences in morphology. These traits are important for survival and proliferation of this group of marine organisms, particularly in a nutrient-variable environment.