POSTER SESSION 4
10:30–12:30, Thursday, September 17
Poster Session | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Schedule at a Glance
ABSTRACT 1365 | POSTER 160
CHARACTERIZING UV-INDUCED ABSORPTION CHARACTERISTICS EXHIBITED BY DINOFLAGELLATES WITH ASSOCIATED MAAs
Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) are photo-protective compounds identified in over 30 species of phytoplankton with highly absorbent properties in the ultraviolet (UV) spectral range (310–362 nm). The deterioration of the ozone layer has increased the total UV exposure to which primary producers are subjected, resulting in cellular degradation and photosynthetic inhibition. While species physiology can determine MAA profiles that mitigate harmful UV effects, additional environmental factors can influence their production and regional distribution. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has commonly been used to characterize the effects of UV exposure and nutrient availability on MAA production, as well as their distribution. Despite this, species-specific absorption spectra for known MAA-producing taxa remain limited.
As harmful algal blooms become more prevalent, it is expected that MAA concentrations in these blooms will impact reflectance measurements captured by hyperspectral sensors such as the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, and Ocean Ecosystem (PACE) Ocean Color Instrument (OCI). This study aims to characterize species-specific phytoplankton absorption spectra across controlled UV exposure treatments likely to induce MAA production. By classifying these spectra, there is potential to improve phytoplankton identification within ocean color models. Hyper-spectral PACE imagery was combined with historical phytoplankton abundance datasets to evaluate absorption relationships. This work serves as a preparatory analysis for the eventual incorporation of these optical signatures into semi-analytic models adapted for hyper-spectral inversions.
Ipanema Mora-Carrera, Florida Atlantic University, [email protected]
Timothy Moore, Florida Atlantic University, [email protected]
Poster Session | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Schedule at a Glance
