Browsing by Subject "cyst formation"

The bioluminescent and toxin-producing dinoflagellate Alexandrium ostenfeldii forms dense blooms in coastal areas of the Baltic Sea. Bioluminescence, light production by an organism through a chemical reaction, is a nocturnal, rhythmic phenomenon in surface algae. In this study, the bioluminescence pattern and rhythm of A. ostenfeldii was under investigation. Procedures for continuous bioluminescence measurements, to support dedicated environmental monitoring of toxic dinoflagellate blooms, were developed. The study consisted mainly of laboratory experiments. Semi-continuous field measurements were included for comparison. In the laboratory, the light production of monocultures of A. ostenfeldii was measured with a spectroluminometer or bathyphotometer, continuously during the night, or for several consecutive days. The method to stimulate bioluminescence was varied, as well as the recovery period of the cells after stimulation. Light regimes during growth and pre-measurement adaptation were also taken into account. The experiments confirm that bioluminescence in A. ostenfeldii follows a circadian pattern and can be stimulated with the chosen methods. Bioluminescence could also be stimulated after culturing in continuous light. Measurement parameters for rhythm experiments (stimulation frequency and recovery period), were optimised. Multi-day experiments in complete darkness suggested that sufficient energy was available to maintain bioluminescent response during one night, although an endogenous rhythm remained present. These experiments gave insight to the phenomenon of bioluminescence regulation in A. ostenfeldii, but also gave rise to new questions. Some repeated measurements resulted in very low bioluminescence intensity, without an obvious reason. The light regime is not the only factor controlling bioluminescence. The interplay between bioluminescence and the growth and condition of the cultures is of interest.