| Abstract: | The effect of light intensity (PAR) on the nitrogenase activity of Mastigocladus laminosus Cohn was studied by the acetylene reduction technique. Benthic mat from a thermal stream, Hot River, in Yellowstone National Park was used in both experimental and in situ incubations. This hot spring maintained a mean pH of 7.0, was essentially isothermal (ca. 50°C), and had virtually no upstream to downstream physicochemical gradients (P > 0.05). Two surveys of the stream showed that nitrogenase of the M. laminosus mat was significantly more active (P > 0.02) under low light intensities than under high intensities, 252 and 712 μE · m?2· s?1, respectively. Maximum activity of Hot River Mastigocladus (268 nmol C2H4· mg Chl a?1· h?1) occurred at 50% full midday light intensities; the rates at low light (mean = 247 nmol C2H4· mg Chl a?1· h?1) were significantly (P > 0.001) greater than those at high light (mean = 106). The results indicate that M. laminosus nitrogenase activity is low light adapted and suggest that the temporal pattern for nitrogen fixation might be significantly different from that of thermophilic Calothrix. |
