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Phenotypic plasticity and differentiation in an invasive freshwater microalga

Sassenhagen, Ingrid LU ; Wilken, Susanne ; Godhe, Anna and Rengefors, Karin LU (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)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
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
2022-04-20 00:36:47
@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}},
}