Photosynthesis in extreme environments
M. Barták
2012

Tolerance ke stínu
*
Ficus%2Bcoronata 100103eg

Tropický deštný les
* http://www.docstoc.com/docs/40486058/Rainforest-Structure-Diagram
tropicalrainforest266 40486058

Jak posoudit toleranci na stín
* Source:
* http://www.studyblue.com/notes/note/n/lect-56/deck/1973518
lecture051328658114239

*
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Cryptoendolithic vegetation
It is a whole ecosystem growing inside clear rocks, just a few millimeters under the surface and
includes an association of bacteria and algae. It is visible as the green stripe on this split
rock. Enough light and water gets through the rock for photosynthesis, and that's all you need to
live, right ? Picture size about 5cm.
Cryptoendolith
http://www.gdargaud.net/Antarctica/Animals.html

Beacon Sandstone, Dry Valleys,
Antarctica
* http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/1998/nsf9824/ch7.htm
*
cryptoe tea_mcmurdodryvalleys

*
http://www.gdargaud.net/Antarctica/Animals.html
dry2
Dry Valleys, Antarctica

* The antarctic cryptoendolithic microbial ecosystem lives under sandstone surfaces in the dry
valley region (Friedmann and Ocampo,1976; Friedmann, 1977). It is relatively simple, consisting of
cyanobacterial or algal primary producers, fungal consumers, and bacterial decomposers. It lacks
animals and, possibly, also archaea. With rock temperatures rising above 0 °C only for a few weeks
in the austral summer to allow photosynthetic productivity, this ecosystem is permanently poised on
the edge of existence.
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Photosynthetic rates
* Carl G Johnston, J Robie Vestal (1991)
*
* Lichens:   4.5 ng C h-1 m-2
*
* Cyanobacteria:   3.0 ng C h-1 m-2
*
*
Please note that  sample temperature was 20-30 oC

Gallery_Image_8413



Rio Tinto
(Spain)
The red waters (pH~2) of the Rio Tinto, Spain, coloured red by jarosite [HFe3(SO4)2(OH)6] formed by
chemolithotrophic iron- and sulfur-oxidizing prokaryotes. Photograph: Extremophiles Lab, CAB,
Madrid.
ANd9GcSkwUi-tIgB990wW0tRWM6QUihiwOU-SB1hf585ANC00iH3kbB7k5FNaALo 300px-Rio-Tinto

Acidophilic algae
The most important Photosynthetic Primary Producers in the Rio Tinto is Acidophilic Algae. These
microbes also require special adaptations to withstand low pH and strong concentrations of heavy
metals.
Aacidophilic algae accounts for 65% of biomass within the Rio Tinto ecosystem. The organisms
identified were

*   Bacillariophyceae (Diatoms),
*   Chlorophyta (Chlamydomonas,   Klebsormidium and Zignema),
*   Euglenozoa (Euglena),
*   Rhodophyta (Galdieria)

Chlamydomonas sp. (Rio Tinto)
Messerli et al. (2005): Transmitted light image of Chlamydomonas sp. isolated from the Rio Tinto.
(B) Pseudocolored images of BCECF fluorescence in Chlamydomonas sp.
Fig. 2.