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A new spectrofluorometric method for the determination of chlorophylls and degradation products and its application in two frontal areas of the Argentine Sea

1991; Elsevier BV; Volume: 11; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0278-4343(91)90052-8

1873-6955

Vivian A. Lutz, JoséI. Carreto,

Algal biology and biofuel production

An improved spectrofluorometric method for the determination of chlorophylls a, b, c and chlorophyll a degradation products was developed. A simple hexane-aqueous acetone partition was employed to separate phytolated from non-phytolated porphyrins. The spectrofluorometric measurement of those phases allows the calculation of the concentration of chlorophylls a, b and c, phaeophytin a, phaeophorbide a and chlorophyllide a. A comparison between the new method and those commonly used on phytoplankton cultures showed that for fresh cultures, without degradation products, chlorophyll concentrations agreed with those of the reference method (Jeffrey and Humphrey, 1975, Biochemical Physiological Pflanzen, 167, 191–194). When accessory chlorophylls and degradation products are present, the new method allowed calculations of the concentrations of each of the mixture components, which cannot be determined by routine methods. The spatial distribution of chlorophylls a, b and c and chlorophyll a degradation products in two frontal areas of the Argentine Sea was studied. The tidal frontal system of the Peninsula Valdés has been hydrographically associated with the development of red tide phenomena. The distribution of the photosynthetic pigments along a transect through this typical front structure was studied during a bloom of the dinoflagellate Prorocentrum micans, in January 1986. Results from a transect in the Buenos Aires province shelf cross a shelf-break front showed an autumn bloom of diatoms. Variations in the proportions of the different pigments are discussed in relation to the predominant phytoplankton communities.