Adjustment of pigment composition in Desmarestia (Desmarestiaceae) species along a sub-Antarctic to Antarctic latitudinal gradient

Figures & data

Table 1 Environmental and habitat variables registered in 2011, 2012 and 2013 during collection of five Desmarestia species at 10 study sites in sub-Antarctica and Antarctica. Shown are the mean or mean range values.

Desmarestia species name	Study site	Depth (m)	PAR (µE /m^2s)	Salinity (psu)	Temperature (°C)	Dissolved O2 (mg/L)	Habitat substrate type
Sub-Antarctica
D. confervoides	St Ana Point	5–7	526.4	32.53	9.73	12.8	Cliff
D. ligulata subsp. ligulata  f. distans	St Ana Point (S53°08′; W71°00′)	5–7	526.4	32.53	9.73	12.8	Cliff
D. ligulata subsp. muelleri	St Ana Point	5–7	526.4	32.53	9.73	12.8	Cliff
D. confervoides	Paula Bay	5–7	164–165	32.17	4.7–10.9	–	Boulders
D. ligulata subsp. ligulata  f. distans	Paula Bay (S54°55′; W67°55′)	5–7	164–166	32.17	4.7–10.9	–	Boulders
D. ligulata subsp. muelleri	Paula Bay	5–7	164–167	32.17	4.7–10.9	–	Boulders
Antarctica
D. antarctica	Fildes (S62°12′; W58°54′)	5–7	729–787	34	2	10.9	Cliff
D. menziesii	Fildes	5–7	729–787	34	2	10.9	Cliff
D. anceps	Prat (S62°27′; W59°44′)	9–12	748–768	33.85	2.1	8.0	Boulders
D. menziesii	Prat	5–7	748–768	33.85	2.1	8.0	Cliff
D. antarctica	Prat	5–7	748–768	33.85	2.1	8.0	Boulders
D. anceps	Hanna (S62°39′; W60°37′)	10	729–787	34	1.8	7.1	Cliff
D. antarctica	Hanna	5–7	729–787	34	1.8	7.1	Cliff
D. menziesii	Deception (S62°59′; W60°35′)	5–7	901.21	33.87	2.1	8.0	Boulders
D. antarctica	Deception	5–7	901.21	33.87	2.1	8.0	Rocky shore
D. antarctica	Spring (S64°17′; W61°05′)	5–7	729–787	33.4	0–1	–	Cliff
D. menziesii	Spring	5–7	729–787	33.4	0–1	–	Cliff
D. menziesii	Argentine (S65°14′; W64°15′)	5–7	729–787	33.4	0–1	–	Cliff
D. menziesii	Rothera (S67°33′; W68°07′)	5–7	1005.9	33.29	1.72	12.6	Cliff
D. menziesii	Carvajal (S62°12′; W58°54′)	5–7	739.6	32.59	0.24	13.3	Cliff
D. antarctica	Carvajal	5–7	739.6	32.59	0.24	13.3	Rocky shore

Fig. 1  Study sites sampled for Desmarestia species from which photosynthetic pigments chl a chl c and Fucox were extracted. Shown are the sites in the sub-Antarctic ecoregion: (1) Saint Ana Point (Brunswick Peninsula); (2) Paula Bay (Beagle Channel) and the study sites sampled in the Antarctic Peninsula; (3) Fildes Bay (Fildes); (4) Hanna Point (Hanna); (5) Prat Point (Prat); (6) Deception Island (Deception); (7) Spring Point (Spring); (8) Argentine Island (Argentine); (9) Rothera Base (Rothera); and (10) Carvajal Base (Carvajal).

Fig. 2  (a) Mean ± SD pigment concentration (N=7 per species) of chl a, chl c and Fucox and (b) ratios of mean pigment concentration (N=7) of chl c/chl a and of Fucox/chl a in species of the genus Desmarestia from the sub-Antarctic region of Chile and the Chilean Antarctic Peninsula.

Fig. 3  Pigment concentration of (a) Desmarestia menziesii and (b) D. antarctica along a latitudinal gradient in the Antarctic Peninsula. Shown are the means ± SD (N=7) concentration of chl a, chl c and Fucox, and mean concentration ratios of chl c/chl a and Fucox/chl a in (c) D. menziesii and in (d) D. antarctica from study sites along the Antarctic Peninsula's latitudinal gradient (N=7).