Underwater Light Manipulation by the Benthic Diatom <i>Ctenophora pulchella</i>: From PAR Efficient Collection to UVR Screening
Edoardo De Tommasi,
Ilaria Rea,
Maria Antonietta Ferrara,
Luca De Stefano,
Mario De Stefano,
Adil Y. Al-Handal,
Marija Stamenković,
Angela Wulff
Affiliations
Edoardo De Tommasi
National Research Council, Institute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems “E. Caianiello”, Via P. Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy
Ilaria Rea
National Research Council, Institute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems “E. Caianiello”, Via P. Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy
Maria Antonietta Ferrara
National Research Council, Institute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems “E. Caianiello”, Via P. Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy
Luca De Stefano
National Research Council, Institute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems “E. Caianiello”, Via P. Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy
Mario De Stefano
Department of Environmental, Biological, and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
Adil Y. Al-Handal
Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 461, 405 30 Göteborg, Sweden
Marija Stamenković
Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 461, 405 30 Göteborg, Sweden
Angela Wulff
Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 461, 405 30 Göteborg, Sweden
Several species of diatoms, unicellular microalgae which constitute the main component of phytoplankton, are characterized by an impressive photosynthetic efficiency while presenting a noticeable tolerance versus exposure to detrimental UV radiation (UVR). In particular, the growth rate of the araphid diatom Ctenophora pulchella is not significantly affected by harsh treatments with UVR, even in absence of detectable, specific UV-absorbing pigments and even if it is not able to avoid high UV exposure by motility. In this work we applied a multi-disciplinary approach involving numerical computation, photonics, and biological parameters in order to investigate the possible role of the frustule, micro- and nano-patterned silica shell which encloses the cell, in the ability of C. pulchella to efficiently collect photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) and to simultaneously screen the protoplasm from UVR. The characterization of the photonic properties of the frustule has been accompanied by in vivo experiments conducted in water in order to investigate its function as optical coupler between light and plastids.
