Document Type

Article

Department/Program

Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Publication Date

2010

Journal

Open Marine Biology Journal

Volume

4

First Page

115

Last Page

121

Abstract

Buoyancy of Phaeocystis globosa Scherffel (Prymnesiophyceae) colonies was investigated by measuring the vertical distribution of colonies in quiescent water where convection had been removed. Over 60% of the colonies exhibited negative buoyancy regardless of light condition or growth phase. Positively and neutrally buoyant colonies lost their buoyancy in the dark, but regained buoyancy upon return to the light. Colonies with closer cell packing; i.e., more cells per unit colonial surface area, had greater capability to remain buoyant. Our results suggest that colony buoyancy was not uniform within a P. globosa population, and that biological regulation of colony buoyancy required light energy.

Keywords

Buoyancy, colony, Phaeocystis globosa, light dependent, growth phase

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