Evolutionary Physiology of Algae and Aquatic Plants

Photosynthetic organisms have an enormous influence on our environment through their effects on the development of other life on Earth and the way they alter the planet’s geology and geochemistry. This book takes a unique approach by examining the evolutionary history of the major groups of aquatic photoautotrophs in the context of the ecophysiological characteristics that have allowed them to adapt to the challenges of life in water and thrive under past and present environmental conditions. The important role played by aquatic photoautotrophs on a planet undergoing unprecedented anthropogenic-induced change is also highlighted, in chapters on their critical function in mitigating environmental change through their physiological processes, and on the role of algae in biotechnology. This invaluable resource will be appreciated by researchers and advanced students interested in the biodiversity and evolutionary physiology of the full range of aquatic photoautotrophs, and their interaction with the environment.

Includes worked examples or exercises

Table of Contents

List of contributors
Preface
Acknowledgements
1. Environmental changes impacting on, and caused by, the evolution of photosynthetic organisms John A. Raven
Part I. Origins and Consequences of Early Photosynthetic Organisms:
2. Early photosynthetic organisms John A. Raven
3. ….And nothing was the same anymore: the rise of O2 and consequences for photoautotrophs John Beardall, Mario Giordano and John A. Raven
4. The appearance of eukaryotic microalgae Patricia Sánchez-Baracaldo and John A. Raven
5. The appearance of macroalgae: evolution and ecological consequences of multicellularity Olivier De Clerk and Catriona L. Hurd
6. The evolution of aquatic embryophytes: secondary colonisers of aquatic environments Stephen C. Maberly
Part II. Physiology of Photosynthetic Autotrophs in Present Day Environments:
7. Light as a major driver of algal physiology and evolution Ondřej Prášil, John Beardall and John A. Raven
8. Temperature: still an enigmatic driver in the evolution and physiology of algae Christian Wilhelm and Heiko Wagner
9. Nutrient acquisition by algae and aquatic embryophytes Antonietta Quigg and John A. Raven
10. Salinity Ulf Karsten
11. Desiccation Catriona L. Hurd
12. Trait Trade Offs in mixoplankton: an analysis Aditee Mitra, Kevin J. Flynn, Diane Stoecker and John A. Raven
13. Effects of pollution on algae Prachi Varshney and John Beardall
14. Algae in extreme and unusual environments John Beardall and John A. Raven
Part III. The Future:
15. Aquatic phototrophs and the greenhouse effect John Beardall and John A. Raven
16. Ultraviolet radiation effects under climate change Anita G.J. Buma, E. Walter Helbling and Michael Y. Roleda
17. Variation in nutrient availability for aquatic phototrophs and its ecological consequences Stephen C. Maberly
18. Algae: New products and applications Michael A. Borowitzka
Index.