Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Contributors
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations and symbols
- Part I Chlorophylls and carotenoids
- Part II Methodology guidance
- Part III Water-soluble ‘pigments’
- Part IV Selected pigment applications in oceanography
- 11 Pigments and photoacclimation processes
- 12 Pigment-based measurements of phytoplankton rates
- 13 In vivo bio-optical properties of phytoplankton pigments
- 14 Optical monitoring of phytoplankton bloom pigment signatures
- Part V Future perspectives
- Part VI Aids for practical laboratory work
- Part VII Data sheets aiding identification of phytoplankton carotenoids and chlorophylls
- Index
- Plate Section
- References
13 - In vivo bio-optical properties of phytoplankton pigments
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 March 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Contributors
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations and symbols
- Part I Chlorophylls and carotenoids
- Part II Methodology guidance
- Part III Water-soluble ‘pigments’
- Part IV Selected pigment applications in oceanography
- 11 Pigments and photoacclimation processes
- 12 Pigment-based measurements of phytoplankton rates
- 13 In vivo bio-optical properties of phytoplankton pigments
- 14 Optical monitoring of phytoplankton bloom pigment signatures
- Part V Future perspectives
- Part VI Aids for practical laboratory work
- Part VII Data sheets aiding identification of phytoplankton carotenoids and chlorophylls
- Index
- Plate Section
- References
Summary
Introduction
In this chapter we focus on spectral in vivo bio-optical (absorption, scattering and fluorescence) characteristics of phytoplankton. As such, the importance of measuring in vivo bio-optical properties of a culture, population or mixed community of phytoplankton is that the optical signatures provide us with important taxonomic, phylogenic and eco-physiological information. The optical signature in the PAR region (400–700 nm) of phytoplankton is central to understand the processes affecting the optical properties of the water column, the potential rate of primary production, phytoplankton community structure, and phytoplankton physiology and photo-ecology. This chapter gives important bio-optical information for interpretation of data from remote sensing and in situ monitoring of phytoplankton blooms (Chapter 14, this volume) and as an aid to study photo-acclimation processes (Chapter 11).
Light, or more precisely, a flux of photons (quanta) hitting a living phytoplankton cell can either be absorbed, scattered, transmitted, emitted as fluorescence/heat or induce photochemistry. The absorption spectrum (PAR) of phytoplankton is a composite signature of cellular photosynthetic and photoprotective pigments, with some contribution from intermediary electron transport components (e.g. flavins, quinines and cytochromes). The nature of the pigmentation varies significantly among phytoplankton groups and with environmental conditions.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Phytoplankton PigmentsCharacterization, Chemotaxonomy and Applications in Oceanography, pp. 496 - 537Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2011
References
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