ALBERT

Description: To assess the thermal adaptation of microscopic stages of the kelp Laminaria digitata along latitudes, we conducted laboratory experiments on samples from six locations in the NE Atlantic (Spitsbergen (SPT), Tromsø (TRM), Bodø (BOD; all Norway), Helgoland (HLG; Germany), Roscoff (ROS) and Quiberon (QUI; both France)), spanning the species' entire distribution range. In experiment 1, we exposed gametophytes to (sub-) lethal high priming temperatures (20-25°C) for two weeks, followed by two weeks of recovery at 15°C, to observe gametophyte survival and sporophyte formation. In experiment 2, samples were subjected to (sub-) optimal low temperatures (0-15°C) for 21 days, to assess gametophyte survival, sporophyte formation and growth. During the experiments, samples were kept in 15 µmol photons/m²/s white light under a 16:8h light:dark cycle. Prior to the experiments, cultures were stored at 15°C in iron-free ½ Provasoli enriched seawater in 3-4 µmol photons/m²/s red light.

Description: To assess the thermal adaptation of microscopic stages of the kelp Laminaria digitata along latitudes, we conducted laboratory experiments on samples from six locations in the NE Atlantic (Spitsbergen (SPT), Tromsø (TRM), Bodø (BOD; all Norway), Helgoland (HLG; Germany), Roscoff (ROS) and Quiberon (QUI; both France)), spanning the species' entire distribution range. Gametophyte stock cultures from the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research were used. Prior to the experiments, cultures were stored at 15°C in iron-free ½ Provasoli enriched seawater in 3-4 µmol photons/m²/s red light. In experiment 1, we exposed gametophytes to (sub-) lethal high priming temperatures (20-25°C) for two weeks, followed by two weeks of recovery at 15°C, to observe gametophyte survival and sporophyte formation. During the experiments, samples were kept in 15 µmol photons/m²/s white light under a 16:8h light:dark cycle.

Description: To assess the thermal adaptation of microscopic stages of the kelp Laminaria digitata along latitudes, we conducted laboratory experiments on samples from six locations in the NE Atlantic (Spitsbergen (SPT), Tromsø (TRM), Bodø (BOD; all Norway), Helgoland (HLG; Germany), Roscoff (ROS) and Quiberon (QUI; both France)), spanning the species' entire distribution range. Gametophyte stock cultures from the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research were used. Prior to the experiments, cultures were stored at 15°C in iron-free ½ Provasoli enriched seawater in 3-4 µmol photons/m²/s red light. In experiment 2, samples were subjected to (sub-) optimal low temperatures (0-15°C) for 21 days, to assess gametophyte survival, sporophyte formation and growth. During the experiments, samples were kept in 15 µmol photons/m²/s white light under a 16:8h light:dark cycle. Sporophyte growth rates both in length and in width were determined as follows: GR = (x2-x1)/(t2-t1), where x is the length or width (μm) and t is the time in weeks at time point 1 and 2.

Description: To assess the thermal adaptation of microscopic stages of the kelp Laminaria digitata along latitudes, we conducted laboratory experiments on samples from six locations in the NE Atlantic (Spitsbergen (SPT), Tromsø (TRM), Bodø (BOD; all Norway), Helgoland (HLG; Germany), Roscoff (ROS) and Quiberon (QUI; both France)), spanning the species' entire distribution range. Gametophyte stock cultures from the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research were used. Prior to the experiments, cultures were stored at 15°C in iron-free ½ Provasoli enriched seawater in 3-4 µmol photons/m²/s red light. In experiment 1, we exposed gametophytes to (sub-) lethal high priming temperatures (20-25°C) for two weeks, followed by two weeks of recovery at 15°C, to observe gametophyte survival and sporophyte formation. During the experiments, samples were kept in 15 µmol photons/m²/s white light under a 16:8h light:dark cycle.

Description: Kelp forests in the North Atlantic are at risk of decline at their warm temperature distribution margins due to anthropogenic temperature rise and more frequent marine heat waves. To investigate the thermal adaptation of the cold-temperate kelp Laminaria digitata, we sampled six populations, from the Arctic to Brittany (Spitsbergen, Tromsø, Bodø [all Norway], Helgoland [Germany], Roscoff and Quiberon [both France]), across the species’ entire distribution range, spanning 31.5° latitude and 12-13°C difference in mean summer sea surface temperature. We used pooled vegetative gametophytes derived from several sporophytes to approximate the genetic diversity of each location. Gametophytes were exposed to (sub-) lethal high (20-25°C) and (sub-) optimal low (0-15°C) temperature gradients in two full-factorial, common-garden experiments, subjecting subsets of populations from different origins to the same conditions. We assessed survival of gametophytes, their ability to develop microscopic sporophytes, and subsequent growth. We hypothesized that the thermal performance of gametophytes and microscopic sporophytes corresponds to their local long-term thermal history. Integrated gametophyte survival revealed a uniform upper survival temperature (UST) of 24°C among five tested populations (Tromsø to Quiberon). In contrast, following two weeks of thermal priming of gametophytes at 20-22°C, sporophyte formation at 15°C was significantly higher in southern populations (Quiberon and Roscoff) compared to the high-latitude population of Tromsø. Between 0-15°C, survival of the Arctic population (Spitsbergen) was negatively correlated with increasing temperatures, while the southernmost population (Quiberon) showed the opposite. Thus, responses of survival at low, and sporophyte formation at high temperatures, support the concept of local adaption. On the other hand, sporophyte formation between 0-15°C peaked at 6-9°C in the Quiberon and at 9-12°C in the Spitsbergen population. Sporophyte growth rates (GR) both in length and width were similar for Spitsbergen, Tromsø and Quiberon; all had maximum GRs at 12-15°C and low GRs at 0-6°C. Therefore, responses of sporophyte formation and growth at low temperatures do not reflect ecotypic adaptation. We conclude that L. digitata populations display trait-dependent adaptation, partly corresponding to their local temperature histories and partly manifesting uniform or unpredictable responses. This suggests differential selection pressures on the ontogenetic development of kelps such as L. digitata.