Algal Photosynthesis (Ellis Horwood Series in Biochemistry and Biotechnology)

Great progress has been made in the study of algal photosynthesis in the last decade. Until now, though, the literature has remained scattered. "Algal Photosynthesis" draws the latest information together by reviewing the conceptual background and available methodologies while interpreting the results of research. The book is organized in three parts. The first summarizes the current knowledge of gas exchange, a fundamental component in most biochemical, physiological, and ecological investigations of the algae. The second part describes available methods for measuring gas exchange during photosynthesis. The discussion of each technique includes an assessment of its sensitivity and accuracy, and a description of the limits and applications of the method. The third part places these measurements into a theoretical framework, considering the interpretation of gas exchange measurements in terms of physiological and ecological models. This book should be of interest to professionals and graduate students interested in algal biology and photosynthesis; and to workers in the fields of plant science, microbiology, marine biology and biochemistry.