In summary, our results show that growth temperature
changes might elicit an adjustment (partial acclimation
response) of photosynthesis. Importantly, we demonstrated
that respiration would display full acclimation to changing
growth temperatures in U. conglobata. This indicates that
respiration probably will not be stimulated significantly if
moderate seawater temperature increases occur. In contrast,
the photosynthetic carbon uptake would be enhanced by
moderately increased temperatures. While high N availability
significantly enhanced the rates of both photosynthesis
and respiration, our results show that it did not affect the
acclimation potential for both metabolisms. Ulva conglobata
thalli grown under the combined higher temperature (258C)
and HN exhibited a higher temperature sensitivity (i.e.
higher Q10 value). We suggest that the acclimation potential
in U. conglobata will favor carbon acquisition and net
carbon balance with increasing seawater temperature and/or
increasing N levels.