Abstract
A portable system for CO2 gas exchange measurements is described that allows determination of net photosynthesis and transpiration rates as well as leaf conductance of salt marsh vascular plants, and photosynthesis rates of macrophytic algae and epibenthic algae of sediment cores during low tide periods of exposure. Carbon fixation processes of these several different types of organisms can be studied on the same day. Measurements may be carried out at an estuarine field site using controlled conditions of light, temperature, and air CO2 partial pressure. Algal samples are enclosed in the cuvette for only a matter of minutes and do not dry significantly during measurement. The rapidity with which gas exchange rates of samples may be assessed will allow routine processing of many sediment cores. Thus, the distribution of producer populations can be studied with greater resolution than previously possible.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Literature cited
American Public Health Association: Standard methods for the analysis of water and wastewater, 13th edition, 835 pp. New York APHA 1971
Caemmerer, S. von and G. D. Farquhar: Some relationships between the biochemistry of photosynthesis and the gas exchange of leaves. Planta 153, 376–387 (1981)
Darwin, F. and D. F. M. Pertz: On a new method of estimating the aperture of stomata. Proc. R. Soc. Lond., Ser. B 84, 136–154 (1911)
DeJong, T. M., B. G. Drake and R. W. Pearcy: Gas exchange responses of Chesapeake Bay tidal marsh species under field and laboratory conditions. Oecologia (Berl.) 52, 5–11 (1982)
Gallagher, J. L. and F. C. Daiber. Diel rhythms in edaphic community metabolism in a Delaware salt marsh. Ecology 54, 1160–1163 (1973)
Giurgevich, J. R. and E. L. Dunn: Seasonal patterns of daily net photosynthesis, transpiration and net primary productivity of Juncus roemerianus and Spartina alterniflora in a Georgia salt marsh. Oecologia (Berl.) 52, 404–410 (1982)
King, R. J. and W. Schramm: Photosynthetic rates of benthic marine algae in relation to light intensity and seasonal variations. Mar. Biol. 37, 215–222 (1976)
Lange, O. L., E. Kilian, A. Meyer and J. D. Tenhunen: Measurement of lichen photosynthesis in the field with a portable steady-state CO2 porometer. Lichenologist 16, 1–9 (1984a)
Lange, O. L., W. Beyschlag, A. Meyer and J. D. Tenhunen. Determination of photosynthetic capacity of lichens in the field — a method for measurement of light response curves at saturating CO2 concentration. Flora 175, 283–293 (1984b)
Lorenzen, C. J.: Determination of chlorophyll and pheo-pigments spectrophotometric equations. Limnol. Oceanogr. 12, 343–346 (1967)
Pearcy, R. W. and S. L. Ustin: Effects of salinity on growth and photosynthesis of three California tidal marsh species. Oecologia (Berl.) 62, 68–73 (1984)
Pomeroy, L. R., W. M. Darley, E. L. Dunn, J. L. Gallagher, E. B. Haines and D. M. Whitney: Primary production. In: The ecology of a salt marsh, pp 39–67. Ed. by L. R. Pomeroy and R. G. Wiegert. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer-Verlag 1981
Schulze, E. D., A. E. Hall, O. L. Lange and H. Walz: A portable steady-state porometer for measuring the carbon dioxide and water vapour exchange of leaves under natural conditions. Oecologia (Berl.) 53, 141–145 (1982)
Wiegert, R. G., L. R. Pomeroy and W. J. Wiebe: Ecology of salt marshes: an introduction. In: The ecology of a salt marsh, pp 3–20. Ed by L. R. Pomeroy and R. G. Wiegert. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer-Verlag 1981
Zedler, J. B.: Algal mat productivity: comparisons in a salt marsh. Estuaries 3, 122–131 (1980)
Zedler, J. B.: Salt marsh algal mat composition: spatial and temporal comparisons. Bull. S. Calif. Acad. Sci. 8, 41–50 (1982)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by O. Kinne, Oldendorf/Luhe
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Catarino, F., Tenhunen, J.D., Brotas, V. et al. Application of CO2-porometer methods to assessment of components of photosynthetic production in estuarine ecosystems. Mar. Biol. 89, 37–43 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392875
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392875