Bunting, Imogen C; D'Archino, Roberta; Barr, Neill G; Bury, Sarah J; Desmond, Matthew J; Hepburn, Christopher D; Kok, Yun Yi; Krieger, Erik C; Le, Duong Minh; Cornwall, Christopher Edward (2026): Laboratory experiments with simulated marine heatwaves to the giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) [dataset]. PANGAEA, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.990505
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Published: 2026-02-16 • DOI registered: 2026-03-17
Abstract:
In this study, juvenile sporophytes were cultured using parental material from five geographically and genetically distinct populations of the giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera from the northern and southern edges of the species' range in Aotearoa New Zealand. These sporophytes were exposed to simulated 22-day marine heatwaves at either 18°C or 22°C, or a 14°C control. The sporophytes were then kept at 14°C for a further 21 days to observe whether they showed signs of recovery. The experiment also assessed whether the long-term storage of gametophytes under red light could affect sporophyte performance; this was achieved by comparing two cultures from the same population (Wellington) that were cultured either with or without long-term storage under red light. The experiment was carried out in Wellington, New Zealand between June and July 2024.
Survival was assessed visually at the end of the heatwave and recovery phases. Length was measured with a ruler, and wet weight was measured with a balance, before and after the heatwave and after the recovery phase, and relative growth rates were calculated based on both metrics. Maximum quantum yield was measured using a Walz Diving-PAM blue light fluorometer before and after the heatwave and after the recovery phase. Blade tissue samples were taken at the end of the heatwave and recovery phases; these were oven dried, ground, and analysed using a mass spectrometer to determine total carbon and nitrogen content and δ13C and δ15N stable isotope ratios.
It was found that the 22°C heatwave treatment caused 64% mortality and a significant reduction in linear growth rates across all kelp cultures, as well as a non-significant but noticeable reduction in maximum quantum yield. However, all cultures were comparatively resistant to the 18°C treatment, with just 23% mortality during the heatwave. Chemical composition of sporophytes was altered in both heatwave treatments, with total carbon content, carbon:nitrogen ratio, and δ15N values increasing significantly. There was little evidence that long-term storage of kelp gametophytes under red light impacts sporophyte survival or growth. Although survival rates and chemical composition differed between some populations, there was no consistent evidence overall for significant differences in thermal tolerance between northern and southern M. pyrifera cultures.
Keyword(s):
Related to:
Bunting, Imogen C; D'Archino, Roberta; Barr, Neill G; Bury, Sarah J; Desmond, Matthew J; Hepburn, Christopher D; Kok, Yun Yi; Krieger, Erik C; Le, Duong Minh; Cornwall, Christopher Edward (2026): Similar sensitivity and resilience to marine heatwaves of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) sporophytes from the northern and southern edges of their distribution in Aotearoa New Zealand. Ocean Ecosystems, 2(1), 1, https://doi.org/10.1186/s44419-025-00002-z
References:
Enríquez, Susana; Borowitzka, Michael A (2011): The use of the fluorescence signal in studies of seagrasses and macroalgae. In Suggett, D.J., Prášil, O. and Borowitzka, M.A. (Eds) Chlorophyll a fluorescence in aquatic sciences: Methods and applications. Springer. Accessed 1 May 2024., Enríquez_Borowitzka_2011.pdf
Kain, Joanna M; Jones, N S (1976): The Biology of Laminaria Hyperborea . VIII. Growth on Cleared Areas. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 56(2), 267-290, https://doi.org/10.1017/S0025315400018907
Mabin, Christopher J T; Johnson, Craig R; Wright, Jeffrey T (2019): Physiological response to temperature, light, and nitrates in the giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera, from Tasmania, Australia. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 614, 1-19, https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12900
Paul, Debajyoti; Skrzypek, Grzegorz; Fórizs, István (2007): Normalization of measured stable isotopic compositions to isotope reference scales – a review. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 21(18), 3006-3014, https://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.3185
Project(s):
Coverage:
Median Latitude: -43.638835 * Median Longitude: 171.456310 * South-bound Latitude: -47.304500 * West-bound Longitude: 166.781830 * North-bound Latitude: -40.718190 * East-bound Longitude: 174.835950
Date/Time Start: 2020-05-03T00:00:00 * Date/Time End: 2023-04-01T00:00:00
Minimum Elevation: -10.0 m * Maximum Elevation: -3.0 m
Event(s):
Break_Sea_Sound * Latitude: -45.577160 * Longitude: 166.781830 * Date/Time: 2020-12-18T00:00:00 * Elevation: -3.0 m * Location: Fiordland, New Zealand * Method/Device: Sampling by hand (HAND) * Comment: Kelp sori collected by hand while diving, stored in sealed plastic bags. Gametophytes stored under red light.
D'Urville_Island * Latitude: -40.718190 * Longitude: 173.966550 * Date/Time: 2020-06-09T00:00:00 * Elevation: -10.0 m * Location: Marlborough, New Zealand * Method/Device: Sampling by hand (HAND) * Comment: Kelp sori collected by hand while diving, stored in sealed plastic bags. Gametophytes stored under red light.
Otago_Karitane * Latitude: -45.638320 * Longitude: 170.671750 * Date/Time: 2020-05-03T00:00:00 * Elevation: -4.0 m * Location: Otago, New Zealand * Method/Device: Sampling by hand (HAND) * Comment: Kelp sori collected by hand while diving, stored in sealed plastic bags. Gametophytes stored under red light.
Parameter(s):
| # | Name | Short Name | Unit | Principal Investigator | Method/Device | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Event label | Event | Bunting, Imogen C | |||
| 2 | Type of study | Study type | Bunting, Imogen C | |||
| 3 | Date/time start, experiment | Date/time start exp | Bunting, Imogen C | |||
| 4 | Date/time end, experiment | Date/time end exp | Bunting, Imogen C | |||
| 5 | Sampling date/time, experiment | Date/time sampling exp | Bunting, Imogen C | |||
| 6 | Species, unique identification | Species UID | Bunting, Imogen C | Reference in WoRMS (WoRMS) | ||
| 7 | Species, unique identification (Semantic URI) | Species UID (Semantic URI) | Bunting, Imogen C | Reference in WoRMS (WoRMS) | ||
| 8 | Species, unique identification (URI) | Species UID (URI) | Bunting, Imogen C | Reference in WoRMS (WoRMS) | ||
| 9 | Treatment: temperature description | T:Temp descr | Bunting, Imogen C | Simulated heatwave at either 18°C or 22°C, or a 14°C control, for 22 days, followed by recovery at 14°C for 21 days. | ||
| 10 | Tank number | Tank No | Bunting, Imogen C | |||
| 11 | Tank block number | Tank block | Bunting, Imogen C | Tanks arranged into four blocks of three; each block had a separate illumination source. | ||
| 12 | Header number | Header | Bunting, Imogen C | Water pumped from headers into experimental tanks. | ||
| 13 | Specimen identification | Spec ID | Bunting, Imogen C | |||
| 14 | Survived heatwave | Survived hea | Bunting, Imogen C | Visual description | Y indicates sporophytes that survived to the conclusion of the 22-day heatwave; N indicates sporophytes that died during the heatwave. | |
| 15 | Survived recovery | Survived recov | Bunting, Imogen C | Visual description | Y indicates sporophytes that survived to the conclusion of the experiment; N indicates sporophytes that died during the recovery phase; S indicates sporophytes that were sacrificed for chemical analysis immediately after the heatwave. | |
| 16 | Macrocystis pyrifera, blade length | M. pyrifera blade l | mm | Bunting, Imogen C | Ruler tape | |
| 17 | Macrocystis pyrifera, growth rate, blade length | M. pyrifera growth rate blade l | %/day | Bunting, Imogen C | ||
| 18 | Macrocystis pyrifera, biomass, wet mass | M. pyrifera biom wm | g | Bunting, Imogen C | Fine balance, OHAUS Corporation, Scout SPX2202 | |
| 19 | Macrocystis pyrifera, growth rate, biomass, wet mass | M. pyrifera growth rate biom wm | %/day | Bunting, Imogen C | ||
| 20 | Maximum quantum yield of photosystem II | Fv/Fm | Bunting, Imogen C | Pulse-Amplitude-Modulated (PAM) fluorometer, WALZ GmbH, DIVING-PAM-II/B for blue light | Saturating pulse intensity was 5500 μmol photons m²/s; pulse duration was 0.8 s. | |
| 21 | Macrocystis pyrifera, biomass as carbon | M. pyrifera C | % | Bunting, Imogen C | Isotope ratio mass spectrometer, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Delta V Advantage with ConFlo IV interface; coupled to elemental analyzer, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Flash 2000 | Blade tissue samples dried in an Isotherm convection oven (Esco Lifesciences Group) at 75°C , then homogenised by grinding. Analyses used either a ZeroBlank autosampler (Costech International) for low-weight samples, or a MAS 200 R autosampler (ThermoFisher Scientific) for larger samples. For low weight samples and standards, the Flash 2000 EA was configured in low volume (IVA Analysentechnik). Reference materials were used to determine stable isotope values following Paul et al. (2007). Precision was determined by the repeat analysis of the working laboratory standard DL-Leucine (DL-2-Amino-4-methylpentanoic acid, C6H13NO2, Lot 127H1084, Sigma). Data from the analysis of IPE4-4 and Kaolinite lab standards were used as a further check on precision. |
| 22 | Macrocystis pyrifera, biomass as nitrogen | M. pyrifera N | % | Bunting, Imogen C | Isotope ratio mass spectrometer, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Delta V Advantage with ConFlo IV interface; coupled to elemental analyzer, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Flash 2000 | Blade tissue samples dried in an Isotherm convection oven (Esco Lifesciences Group) at 75°C , then homogenised by grinding. Analyses used either a ZeroBlank autosampler (Costech International) for low-weight samples, or a MAS 200 R autosampler (ThermoFisher Scientific) for larger samples. For low weight samples and standards, the Flash 2000 EA was configured in low volume (IVA Analysentechnik). Reference materials were used to determine stable isotope values following Paul et al. (2007). Precision was determined by the repeat analysis of the working laboratory standard DL-Leucine (DL-2-Amino-4-methylpentanoic acid, C6H13NO2, Lot 127H1084, Sigma). Data from the analysis of IPE4-4 and Kaolinite lab standards were used as a further check on precision. |
| 23 | Macrocystis pyrifera, carbon/nitrogen ratio | M. pyrifera C/N | Bunting, Imogen C | Isotope ratio mass spectrometer, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Delta V Advantage with ConFlo IV interface; coupled to elemental analyzer, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Flash 2000 | Blade tissue samples dried in an Isotherm convection oven (Esco Lifesciences Group) at 75°C , then homogenised by grinding. Analyses used either a ZeroBlank autosampler (Costech International) for low-weight samples, or a MAS 200 R autosampler (ThermoFisher Scientific) for larger samples. For low weight samples and standards, the Flash 2000 EA was configured in low volume (IVA Analysentechnik). Reference materials were used to determine stable isotope values following Paul et al. (2007). Precision was determined by the repeat analysis of the working laboratory standard DL-Leucine (DL-2-Amino-4-methylpentanoic acid, C6H13NO2, Lot 127H1084, Sigma). Data from the analysis of IPE4-4 and Kaolinite lab standards were used as a further check on precision. | |
| 24 | Macrocystis pyrifera, δ13C | M. pyrifera δ13C | ‰ | Bunting, Imogen C | Isotope ratio mass spectrometer, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Delta V Advantage with ConFlo IV interface; coupled to elemental analyzer, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Flash 2000 | Blade tissue samples dried in an Isotherm convection oven (Esco Lifesciences Group) at 75°C , then homogenised by grinding. Analyses used either a ZeroBlank autosampler (Costech International) for low-weight samples, or a MAS 200 R autosampler (ThermoFisher Scientific) for larger samples. For low weight samples and standards, the Flash 2000 EA was configured in low volume (IVA Analysentechnik). Reference materials were used to determine stable isotope values following Paul et al. (2007). Sample δ13C values were two-point normalised using isotopic data from the daily analysis of NIST 8573 USGS40 and L-Valine #2 USGS74. Precision was determined by the repeat analysis of the working laboratory standard DL-Leucine (DL-2-Amino-4-methylpentanoic acid, C6H13NO2, Lot 127H1084, Sigma). Data from the analysis of USGS65 Glycine (values of both δ15N and δ13C) and L-Valine #2 USGS74 (value of δ15N only) were used to check accuracy and precision. Data from the analysis of IPE4-4 and Kaolinite lab standards were used as a further check on precision. |
| 25 | Macrocystis pyrifera, δ15N | M. pyrifera δ15N | ‰ | Bunting, Imogen C | Isotope ratio mass spectrometer, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Delta V Advantage with ConFlo IV interface; coupled to elemental analyzer, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Flash 2000 | Blade tissue samples dried in an Isotherm convection oven (Esco Lifesciences Group) at 75°C , then homogenised by grinding. Analyses used either a ZeroBlank autosampler (Costech International) for low-weight samples, or a MAS 200 R autosampler (ThermoFisher Scientific) for larger samples. For low weight samples and standards, the Flash 2000 EA was configured in low volume (IVA Analysentechnik). Reference materials were used to determine stable isotope values following Paul et al. (2007). Sample δ15N values were two-point normalised using isotopic data from the daily analysis of NIST 8573 USGS40 L-glutamic acid and NIST 8548 IAEA-N2 Ammonium sulphate. Precision was determined by the repeat analysis of the working laboratory standard DL-Leucine (DL-2-Amino-4-methylpentanoic acid, C6H13NO2, Lot 127H1084, Sigma). Data from the analysis of USGS65 Glycine (values of both δ15N and δ13C) and L-Valine #2 USGS74 (value of δ15N only) were used to check accuracy and precision. Data from the analysis of IPE4-4 and Kaolinite lab standards were used as a further check on precision. |
| 26 | Macrocystis pyrifera, biomass as carbon | M. pyrifera C | % | Bunting, Imogen C | Isotope ratio mass spectrometer, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Delta V Advantage with ConFlo IV interface; coupled to elemental analyzer, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Flash 2000 | Larger tissue samples were divided into two subsamples that were analysed separately. |
| 27 | Macrocystis pyrifera, biomass as nitrogen | M. pyrifera N | % | Bunting, Imogen C | Isotope ratio mass spectrometer, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Delta V Advantage with ConFlo IV interface; coupled to elemental analyzer, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Flash 2000 | Larger tissue samples were divided into two subsamples that were analysed separately. |
| 28 | Macrocystis pyrifera, carbon/nitrogen ratio | M. pyrifera C/N | Bunting, Imogen C | Isotope ratio mass spectrometer, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Delta V Advantage with ConFlo IV interface; coupled to elemental analyzer, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Flash 2000 | Larger tissue samples were divided into two subsamples that were analysed separately. | |
| 29 | Macrocystis pyrifera, δ13C | M. pyrifera δ13C | ‰ | Bunting, Imogen C | Isotope ratio mass spectrometer, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Delta V Advantage with ConFlo IV interface; coupled to elemental analyzer, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Flash 2000 | Larger tissue samples were divided into two subsamples that were analysed separately. |
| 30 | Macrocystis pyrifera, δ15N | M. pyrifera δ15N | ‰ | Bunting, Imogen C | Isotope ratio mass spectrometer, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Delta V Advantage with ConFlo IV interface; coupled to elemental analyzer, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Flash 2000 | Larger tissue samples were divided into two subsamples that were analysed separately. |
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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY-4.0)
Status:
Curation Level: Enhanced curation (CurationLevelC)
Size:
7819 data points
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