It's what's inside that matters: physiological adaptations of high‐latitude marine microalgae to environmental change

• Published in: New Phytologist
• Main Authors: Young, Jodi N., Schmidt, Katrin
• Other Authors: University of Washington, National Science Foundation, Simons Foundation
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2020
• Subjects: Sea ice
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/nph.16648; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fnph.16648; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/nph.16648; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1111/nph.16648; https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/am-pdf/10.1111/nph.16648; https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/nph.16648

Summary Marine microalgae within seawater and sea ice fuel high‐latitude ecosystems and drive biogeochemical cycles through the fixation and export of carbon, uptake of nutrients, and production and release of oxygen and organic compounds. High‐latitude marine environments are characterized by cold temperatures, dark winters and a strong seasonal cycle. Within this environment a number of diverse and dynamic habitats exist, particularly in association with the formation and melt of sea ice, with distinct microalgal communities that transition with the season. Algal physiology is a crucial component, both responding to the dynamic environment and in turn influencing its immediate physicochemical environment. As high‐latitude oceans shift into new climate regimes the analysis of seasonal responses may provide insights into how microalgae will respond to long‐term environmental change. This review discusses recent developments in our understanding of how the physiology of high‐latitude marine microalgae is regulated over a polar seasonal cycle, with a focus on ice‐associated (sympagic) algae. In particular, physiologies that impact larger scale processes will be explored, with an aim to improve our understanding of current and future ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles.