MEPS 158:283-287 (1997)  -  doi:10.3354/meps158283

A UV absorbing compound was observed in surface waters of the Iceland Basin during the decline of a phytoplankton bloom in June 1989. The compound elutes early during reverse-phase HPLC analyses of phytoplankton chlorophylls and carotenoids and has a broad absorption band from 300 to 470 nm with an absorption maximum at 380 nm. The compound (subsequently referred to as P380) is characterised by similar, but not identical, elution properties and absorption spectrum to scytonemin, an ultraviolet sunscreen pigment not previously found in the phytoplankton. The similarity of P380 to mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) is also discussed. P380 concentrations are highest in surface waters, decline sharply within the upper euphotic zone, and are linearly correlated (r² = 0.68) with the photoprotective carotenoid diadinoxanthin.

UV absorbing compound · Pigments · Phytoplankton · HPLC · Iceland Basin