Phenotypic plasticity and differentiation in an invasive freshwater microalga
(2015) In Harmful Algae 41. p.38-45- Abstract
- Recent studies show that both marine and limnic microalgal species often consist of several genetically distinct populations. This is also valid for the nuisance freshwater algae Gonyostomum semen, which originates from acidic, brown water swamp lakes, but can nowadays also be found in clearer lakes with close to neutral pH. We hypothesized that the observed genetic differentiation among G. semen lake populations, reported in earlier studies, is connected to adaptation to local environmental conditions. In the present study we performed controlled laboratory experiments to test whether 12 strains originating from five lakes varied in their response to five to six different pHs, light intensities and DOC concentrations. Overall, growth... (More)
- Recent studies show that both marine and limnic microalgal species often consist of several genetically distinct populations. This is also valid for the nuisance freshwater algae Gonyostomum semen, which originates from acidic, brown water swamp lakes, but can nowadays also be found in clearer lakes with close to neutral pH. We hypothesized that the observed genetic differentiation among G. semen lake populations, reported in earlier studies, is connected to adaptation to local environmental conditions. In the present study we performed controlled laboratory experiments to test whether 12 strains originating from five lakes varied in their response to five to six different pHs, light intensities and DOC concentrations. Overall, growth (0.01–0.37 day1) was observed over a wide range of light intensities and pHs, demonstrating high potential for photoacclimation and extensive plasticity of individual strains. Moreover, we found similar growth rates and consistent growth optima for specific pHs by strains from the same lake, suggesting genetic differentiation of populations into distinct phenotypes. However, observed strain specific preferences did not always reflect environmental conditions in the lakes of origin and provided limited evidence for the hypothesized local adaptation. Instead, the observed phenotypic differentiation may indicate resilient effects of founder events. We suggest that the wide phenotypic plasticity in this species enables it to thrive in fluctuating and variable environments, and may play a role in its ability to colonize new habitats. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/5010720
- author
- Sassenhagen, Ingrid LU ; Wilken, Susanne ; Godhe, Anna and Rengefors, Karin LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2015
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Gonyostomum semen, growth rate, phenotypic differentiation, plasticity, pH, raphidophyte
- in
- Harmful Algae
- volume
- 41
- pages
- 38 - 45
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- wos:000348086400003
- scopus:84916613420
- ISSN
- 1878-1470
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.hal.2014.11.001
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 6f68875a-38e2-4438-b2ca-4eabc033bc29 (old id 5010720)
- alternative location
- http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1568988314001966
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 10:16:47
- date last changed
- 2024-05-05 09:30:02
@article{6f68875a-38e2-4438-b2ca-4eabc033bc29,
abstract = {{Recent studies show that both marine and limnic microalgal species often consist of several genetically distinct populations. This is also valid for the nuisance freshwater algae Gonyostomum semen, which originates from acidic, brown water swamp lakes, but can nowadays also be found in clearer lakes with close to neutral pH. We hypothesized that the observed genetic differentiation among G. semen lake populations, reported in earlier studies, is connected to adaptation to local environmental conditions. In the present study we performed controlled laboratory experiments to test whether 12 strains originating from five lakes varied in their response to five to six different pHs, light intensities and DOC concentrations. Overall, growth (0.01–0.37 day1) was observed over a wide range of light intensities and pHs, demonstrating high potential for photoacclimation and extensive plasticity of individual strains. Moreover, we found similar growth rates and consistent growth optima for specific pHs by strains from the same lake, suggesting genetic differentiation of populations into distinct phenotypes. However, observed strain specific preferences did not always reflect environmental conditions in the lakes of origin and provided limited evidence for the hypothesized local adaptation. Instead, the observed phenotypic differentiation may indicate resilient effects of founder events. We suggest that the wide phenotypic plasticity in this species enables it to thrive in fluctuating and variable environments, and may play a role in its ability to colonize new habitats.}},
author = {{Sassenhagen, Ingrid and Wilken, Susanne and Godhe, Anna and Rengefors, Karin}},
issn = {{1878-1470}},
keywords = {{Gonyostomum semen; growth rate; phenotypic differentiation; plasticity; pH; raphidophyte}},
language = {{eng}},
pages = {{38--45}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Harmful Algae}},
title = {{Phenotypic plasticity and differentiation in an invasive freshwater microalga}},
url = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/1710356/5010741.pdf}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.hal.2014.11.001}},
volume = {{41}},
year = {{2015}},
}