Cited by 52Marine and coastal ecosystemsPhotosynthetic Processes and MechanismsAquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics

What limits photosynthetic energy conversion efficiency in nature? Lessons from the oceans

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Falkowski, Paul G., Lin, Hanzhi, Gorbunov, Maxim Y.·2017·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Abstract

Constraining photosynthetic energy conversion efficiency in nature is challenging. In principle, two yield measurements must be made simultaneously: photochemistry, fluorescence and/or thermal dissipation. We constructed two different, extremely sensitive and precise active fluorometers: one measures the quantum yield of photochemistry from changes in variable fluorescence, the other measures fluorescence lifetimes in the picosecond time domain. By deploying the pair of instruments on eight transoceanic cruises over six years, we obtained over 200 000 measurements of fluorescence yields and lifetimes from surface waters in five ocean basins. Our results revealed that the average quantum yield of photochemistry was approximately 0.35 while the average quantum yield of fluorescence was approximately 0.07. Thus, closure on the energy budget suggests that, on average, approximately 58% of the photons absorbed by phytoplankton in the world oceans are dissipated as heat. This extraordinary inefficiency is associated with the paucity of nutrients in the upper ocean, especially dissolved inorganic nitrogen and iron. Our results strongly suggest that, in nature, most of the time, most of the phytoplankton community operates at approximately half of its maximal photosynthetic energy conversion efficiency because nutrients limit the synthesis or function of essential components in the photosynthetic apparatus. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Enhancing photosynthesis in crop plants: targets for improvement’.

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  • According to the literature, the fluorescence lifetimes of chlorophyll a range from 3.0 to 5.1 ns for an isolated molecule, depending on the polarity of the solvent.

    “According to the literature, the fluorescence lifetimes of chlorophyll a range from 3.0 to 5.1 ns for an isolated molecule, depending on the polarity of the solvent [20].”

    From Photoacoustic and fluorescence lifetime imaging of diatoms (2020) · cites this paper as [20]

  • In living cells, the fluorescence lifetime of chlorophyll a ranges from 0.3 to about 1.5 ns, because a great amount of absorbed energy is used in photochemical reactions.

    “In living cells, the lifetime ranges from 0.3 to about 1.5 ns, because a great amount of absorbed energy is used in photochemical reactions [20].”

    From Photoacoustic and fluorescence lifetime imaging of diatoms (2020) · cites this paper as [20]

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  1. Gorbunov M, Falkowski P. 2005 Fluorescence induction and relaxation (FIRe) technique and instrumentation for monitoring photosynthetic processes and primary production in aquatic ecosystems. In Photosynthesis fundamental aspects to global perspectives, International Society of Photosynthesis (eds A van der Est, D Bruce), pp. 1029-1031. London, UK: Allen Press.

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Authors
Falkowski, P. G., Lin, H., & Gorbunov, M. Y.
Affiliations
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US)
Corresponding author
Falkowski, Paul G.
Venue
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Published
2017-08-14
Volume
372
Issue
1730
Pages
20160376
ISSN
  • 0962-8436 (ISSN-L)
  • 1471-2970
OpenAlex
W2749836920
Cited by
52
References
54
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 1
FWCI
3.64
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
NASA (NNX16AT54G)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Oceanography › Marine and coastal ecosystems
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
Keywords
phytoplankton, fluorescence yield, fluorescence lifetime, heat dissipation, energy budget closure, nutrient limitation, dissolved inorganic nitrogen, iron limitation, upper ocean, ocean surface water
MeSH terms
Energy Metabolism, Fluorescence, Fluorometry, Oceans and Seas, Photosynthesis, Phytoplankton, Photochemical Processes

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