Light effects on Crassulacean acid metabolism in the submerged aquatic plant Isoetes kirkii A. Braun

In the submerged aquatic CAM plant, Isoetes kirkii A. Braun, light was shown to be the environmental factor having the major influence on daily did malic acid/titratable acid fluctuations. In Lake Taupo (New Zealand), a large oligotrophic lake, seasonal variation in the level of did fluctuations was demonstrated and this corresponded to changes in temperature, light, and daylength while Total Inorganic Carbon (TIC) remained relatively constant. However, in situ shading experiments demonstrated that, at any one time, the diel acid fluctuations were controlled by the ambient light levels as the other variables were constant. Laboratory experiments supported this and also showed that there was a close relationship between photosynthetic rates and de‐acidification when related to light intensity.