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. 2022 Dec 8;17(12):e0278268.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278268. eCollection 2022.

Effect of temperature on sporulation and spore development of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera)

Duong M Le  1   2 , Mathew J Desmond  1   2 , Daniel W Pritchard  2 , Christopher D Hepburn  1   2
Affiliations

Effect of temperature on sporulation and spore development of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera)

Duong M Le et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Rising ocean temperature is a major driver of kelp forest decline worldwide and one that threatens to intensify over the coming decades. What is not particularly well understood are the mechanisms that drive loss and how they operate at differing life stages. This study aimed to establish an understanding of the effects of increasing temperature on the early developmental stages of the giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera. Sporulation was carried out across 10 temperature treatments from 9.5 to 26.2°C ± 0.2°C at approximately 2°C intervals. Spores were then incubated at these temperatures under a 20.3±1.7 μmol photons m-2 s-1, 16L:8D photoperiod for 5 days. Results indicate that spore release was positively correlated with increasing temperature, whereas an inverse trend was observed between temperature and the growth of germ-tube. The thermal threshold for spore and germling development was determined to be between 21.7°C and 23.8°C. Spore settlement was the most drastically effected developmental phase by increasing temperature. This study highlights the vulnerability of early life stages of M. pyrifera development to rising ocean temperature and has implications for modelling future distribution of this valuable ecosystem engineer in a changing ocean.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Physiological responses of the early life stages of M. pyrifera across 10 temperature treatments from 9.5–26.2 ± 0.2°C.
A: Mean (± SE) spore production after 30 min incubation time, n = 6; B: Mean (± SE) percentage of spore settlement 24 hours post sporulation, n = 6 (except treatment 12.9°C: n = 5); C: Mean (± SE) percentage of settled spores germinated of M. pyrifera after five days, n = 6 (except treatment 12.9°C: n = 5). D: Mean (± SE) percentage cell survivorship after five days, n = 6 (except treatment 12.9, 16.3, 18.1, 21.7°C: n = 5; 19.8°C: n = 3). Letters indicate statistical significance between treatments (Tukey-adjusted, p-value<0.05).
Fig 2
Fig 2. Mean (± SE) length of germ-tube (μm) of germinated spores of M. pyrifera in each of two sampling points with ten different temperature treatments from 9.5–26.2 ± 0.2°C.
Letters indicate statistical significance between treatments and time (Tukey-adjusted, p-value<0.05), n = 6, (except treatment 12.9°C: n = 5).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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