The Adaptation of Plankton Algae V. Variation in the Photosynthetic Characteristics of Skeletonema costatum Cells Grown at Low Light Intensity.

The variation in Skeletonema cells grown at 3 klux continuous illumination and 20°C is reported. Four different types of lamps gave no difference in the photosynthetic characteristics. The average diameter of the cells decreased from 8-3.5 μ during their six months vegetative period. The ratio between the pigment content in the largest and the smallest cells was about 2:1. A good correlation between cell volume and chlorophyll a content was found for this species. The content of chlorophyll c generally varied between 4 and 17 per cent of the chlorophyll a content -- A distinct correlation between the chlorophyll a content and the rate of photosynthesis per unit of cells at low light intensity was found. The rate of photosynthesis, in mg C per mg chlorophyll a and hour at 1 klux, varied between 0.40 and 0.70 for all 60 experiments with an average value of 0.56. The corresponding value for cells deficient in phosphorus was 0.19 and for cells deficient in nitrogen 0.09. -- The material also showed a good correlation between the rate of photosynthesis per cell at 1 klux and the light-saturated rate of photosynthesis. Ik varied between 7 and 13 klux. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]