Adaptation of the Cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa to Light Intensity

Abstract
Light intensity adaptation (20-565 microeinsteins/m2 per sec) of M. aeruginosa (UV-027) was examined in turbidostat culture. Chlorophyll a and phycocyanin concentrations decreased with increasing light intensity while carotenoid, cellular C and N contents did not vary. Variation in the number but not the size of photosynthetic units per cell, based on chlorophyll a/P700 ratios, occurred on light intensity adaptation. Changes in the numbers of photosynthetic units partially dampened the effects of changes in light intensity on growth rates.