Molecular underpinnings and biogeochemical consequences of enhanced diatom growth in a warming Southern Ocean

Phytoplankton contribute to the Southern Ocean’s (SO) ability to absorb atmospheric CO2 and shape the stoichiometry of northward macronutrient delivery. Climate change is altering the SO environment, yet we know little about how resident phytoplankton will react to these changes. Here, we studied a...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Main Authors: Jabre, L.J., Allen, A.E, McCain, S.J.P., (.), Sipler, R.E.
Format: Text
Language:unknown
Published: W&M ScholarWorks 2021
Subjects:
Diatoms
Iron limitation
Metatranscriptomics
Southern Ocean
Temperature
Biological Sciences Peer-Reviewed Articles
Marine Biology
Online Access:https://scholarworks.wm.edu/vimsarticles/2190
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2107238118
https://scholarworks.wm.edu/context/vimsarticles/article/3189/viewcontent/Jabre_et_al_PNAS_2021.pdf
https://scholarworks.wm.edu/context/vimsarticles/article/3189/filename/0/type/additional/viewcontent/pnas2107238118supp.pdf
Description
Summary:Phytoplankton contribute to the Southern Ocean’s (SO) ability to absorb atmospheric CO2 and shape the stoichiometry of northward macronutrient delivery. Climate change is altering the SO environment, yet we know little about how resident phytoplankton will react to these changes. Here, we studied a natural SO community and compared responses of two prevalent, bloom-forming diatom groups to changes in temperature and iron that are projected to occur by 2100 to 2300. We found that one group, Pseudo-nitzschia, grows better under warmer low-iron conditions by managing cellular iron demand and efficiently increasing photosynthetic capacity. This ability to grow and draw down nutrients in the face of warming, regardless of iron availability, has major implications for ocean ecosystems and global nutrient cycles.

Similar Items