Calcification in Crustose coralline algae (Lithotamnion spp.)
Supervisor: Laurie Hofmann (Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany)
Crustose coralline algae are calcareus red algae and have important ecological roles on the coastal stability, beach formation, and coral reef structure. The calcareous red coralline algae are of particular interest to investigate as they conduct both photosynthesis and calcification. Those mechanisms are not well understood, and they represent an important factor in the ocean acidification. This thesis will consist of experiments designed to investigate the process of calcification in coralline algae (Lithothamnion spp.). Calcification in these algae will be under light and dark conditions and calcification will be estimated using two different methods: Total alkalinity-anomaly technique and with method with Radioactive traces. To understand better the mechanisms of calcification and photosynthesis we tested the effect of inhibitors (AZ and TRIS) on calcium uptake and assimilation in coralline algae.