Event Title
A Look Into the Past: Photo-Physiology of Cyanobacterial Mat Pigments in Alpena, Michigan and Lake Huron Sinkholes
Presentation Type
Poster/Portfolio
Presenter Major(s)
Biomedical Sciences
Mentor Information
Bopi Biddanda
Department
Annis Water Resource Institute (AWRI)
Location
Henry Hall Atrium 95
Start Date
10-4-2013 12:00 PM
End Date
10-4-2013 1:00 PM
Keywords
Life Science
Abstract
Cyanobacteria were key to oxygenating the atmosphere 2.5 billion years ago (bya). My study examined light harvesting pigments and their response to different light conditions in modern purple cyanobacterial mats that reside in the bottom of the deep, low-light Middle Island sinkhole and the shallow high-light El Cajon springs. Chlorophyll a, phycocyanin (PC) and phycoerythrin (PE) were extracted for analysis and pigment ratios were compared between locations. Photosynthetic yield was taken using a Dive-PAM to investigate the photo-physiology of the mats, on location and in the lab. Pigment concentrations from the high-light mats showed decreased pigment concentrations as light intensity increased, while low-light mat pigment concentrations increased with increasing light intensity. Further, PE:PC showed that El Cajon cyanobacteria express more PC, while Middle Island mat express more PE suggesting these modern cyanobacteria actively vary their pigment composition in response to available light.
A Look Into the Past: Photo-Physiology of Cyanobacterial Mat Pigments in Alpena, Michigan and Lake Huron Sinkholes
Henry Hall Atrium 95
Cyanobacteria were key to oxygenating the atmosphere 2.5 billion years ago (bya). My study examined light harvesting pigments and their response to different light conditions in modern purple cyanobacterial mats that reside in the bottom of the deep, low-light Middle Island sinkhole and the shallow high-light El Cajon springs. Chlorophyll a, phycocyanin (PC) and phycoerythrin (PE) were extracted for analysis and pigment ratios were compared between locations. Photosynthetic yield was taken using a Dive-PAM to investigate the photo-physiology of the mats, on location and in the lab. Pigment concentrations from the high-light mats showed decreased pigment concentrations as light intensity increased, while low-light mat pigment concentrations increased with increasing light intensity. Further, PE:PC showed that El Cajon cyanobacteria express more PC, while Middle Island mat express more PE suggesting these modern cyanobacteria actively vary their pigment composition in response to available light.