Journal
JOURNAL OF PLANKTON RESEARCH
Volume 42, Issue 2, Pages 119-134Publisher
OXFORD UNIV PRESS
DOI: 10.1093/plankt/fbaa011
Keywords
Alexandrium catenella; phenotypic plasticity; reaction norms; variable environment; abiotic drivers
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Funding
- Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Cientifico y Tecnologico (FONDECYT) [1080548, 1130954]
- Comision Nacional de Investigacion Cientifica y Tecnologica (CONICYT)
- Proyecto Interno [FNI02/16 ULA CR8520]
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Alexandrium catenella, the main species associated with harmful algal blooms, has progressively increased its distribution through one of the most extensive and highly variable fjord systems in the world. In order to understand this successful expansion, we evaluated the effects of different salinities, light intensity, temperatures, nitrogen (N) forms and nitrogen/phosphate (N:P) ratio levels on the growth performance, using clones isolated from different locations across its wide geographic distribution. Results showed that the growth responses were plastic and, in some cases, different reaction norms among clones were observed. Despite plasticity, the optimal growth of A. catenella (i.e. highest growth rate and highest maximal cells density) was reached within a narrow thermal range (12-15 degrees C), while salinity (20-30 PSU) and light intensity (20-120 mu mol m(-2) s(-1)) ranges were wider. These results are partially consistent with the highest cell densities recorded in the field. Furthermore, optimal growth was reached using reduced forms of nitrogen (i.e. urea and NH4+) and in unbalanced N:P ratios (18:1 and 30:1). These characteristics likely allow A. catenella to grow in highly variable environmental conditions and might partly explain the recent expansion of this species.
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