Environmental Stressors Modulating Seasonal and Daily Carbon Dioxide Assimilation and Productivity in Lessonia...

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions due to human activities are responsible for approximately 80% of the drivers of global warming, resulting in a 1.1 °C increase above pre-industrial temperatures. This study quantified the CO₂ assimilation and productivity of the brown macroalgae Lessonia spicata in the central Pacific coast of Chile, across seasonal and daily cycles, under different environmental stressors, such as temperature and solar irradiance. Measurements were performed using an infra-red gas analysis (IRGA) instrument which had a chamber allowing for precise quantification of CO₂ concentrations; additional photophysiological and biochemical responses were also measured. CO₂ assimilation, along with the productivity and biosynthesis of proteins and lipids, increased during the spring, coinciding with moderate temperatures (~14 °C) and high photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Furthermore, the increased production of photoprotective and antioxidant compounds, including phenolic compounds, and carotenoids, along with the enhancement of non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), contribute to the effective photoacclimation strategies of L. spicata. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed seasonal associations between productivity, reactive oxygen species (ROSs), and biochemical indicators, particularly during the spring and summer. These associations, further supported by Pearson correlation analyses, suggest a high but seasonally constrained photoacclimation capacity. In contrast, the reduced productivity and photoprotection observed in the summer suggest increased physiological vulnerability to heat and light stress. Overall, our findings position L. spicata as a promising nature-based solution for climate change mitigation.