Copper-containing plastocyanin used for electron transport by an oceanic diatom

The supply of some essential metals to pelagic ecosystems is less than the demand, so many phytoplankton have slow rates of photosynthetic production and restricted growth. The types and amounts of metals required by phytoplankton depends on their evolutionary history and on their adaptations to metal availability, which varies widely among ocean habitats. Diatoms, for example, need considerably less iron (Fe) to grow than chlorophyll-b-containing taxa, and the oceanic species demand roughly one-tenth the amount of coastal strains. Like Fe, copper (Cu) is scarce in the open sea, but notably higher concentrations of it are required for the growth of oceanic than of coastal isolates. Here we report that the greater Cu requirement in an oceanic diatom, Thalassiosira oceanica, is entirely due to a single Cu-containing protein, plastocyanin, which--until now--was only known to exist in organisms with chlorophyll b and cyanobacteria. Algae containing chlorophyll c, including the closely related coastal species T. weissflogii, are thought to lack plastocyanin and contain a functionally equivalent Fe-containing homologue, cytochrome c6 (ref. 9). Copper deficiency in T. oceanica inhibits electron transport regardless of Fe status, implying a constitutive role for plastocyanin in the light reactions of photosynthesis in this species. The results suggest that selection pressure imposed by Fe limitation has resulted in the use of a Cu protein for photosynthesis in an oceanic diatom. This biochemical switch reduces the need for Fe and increases the requirement for Cu, which is relatively more abundant in the open sea.     

The decline and fate of an iron-induced subarctic phytoplankton bloom

Iron supply has a key role in stimulating phytoplankton blooms in high-nitrate low-chlorophyll oceanic waters. However, the fate of the carbon fixed by these blooms, and how efficiently it is exported into the ocean's interior, remains largely unknown. Here we report on the decline and fate of an iron-stimulated diatom bloom in the Gulf of Alaska. The bloom terminated on day 18, following the depletion of iron and then silicic acid, after which mixed-layer particulate organic carbon (POC) concentrations declined over six days. Increased particulate silica export via sinking diatoms was recorded in sediment traps at depths between 50 and 125 m from day 21, yet increased POC export was not evident until day 24. Only a small proportion of the mixed-layer POC was intercepted by the traps, with more than half of the mixed-layer POC deficit attributable to bacterial remineralization and mesozooplankton grazing. The depletion of silicic acid and the inefficient transfer of iron-increased POC below the permanent thermocline have major implications both for the biogeochemical interpretation of times of greater iron supply in the geological past, and also for proposed geo-engineering schemes to increase oceanic carbon sequestration.     

Copepod hatching success in marine ecosystems with high diatom concentrations

Diatoms dominate spring bloom phytoplankton assemblages in temperate waters and coastal upwelling regions of the global ocean. Copepods usually dominate the zooplankton in these regions and are the prey of many larval fish species. Recent laboratory studies suggest that diatoms may have a deleterious effect on the success of copepod egg hatching. These findings challenge the classical view of marine food-web energy flow from diatoms to fish by means of copepods. Egg mortality is an important factor in copepod population dynamics, thus, if diatoms have a deleterious in situ effect, paradoxically, high diatom abundance could limit secondary production. Therefore, the current understanding of energy transfer from primary production to fisheries in some of the most productive and economically important marine ecosystems may be seriously flawed. Here we present in situ estimates of copepod egg hatching success from twelve globally distributed areas, where diatoms dominate the phytoplankton assemblage. We did not observe a negative relationship between copepod egg hatching success and either diatom biomass or dominance in the microplankton in any of these regions. The classical model for diatom-dominated system remains valid.     

A mesoscale phytoplankton bloom in the polar Southern Ocean stimulated by iron fertilization

Changes in iron supply to oceanic plankton are thought to have a significant effect on concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide by altering rates of carbon sequestration, a theory known as the 'iron hypothesis'. For this reason, it is important to understand the response of pelagic biota to increased iron supply. Here we report the results of a mesoscale iron fertilization experiment in the polar Southern Ocean, where the potential to sequester iron-elevated algal carbon is probably greatest. Increased iron supply led to elevated phytoplankton biomass and rates of photosynthesis in surface waters, causing a large drawdown of carbon dioxide and macronutrients, and elevated dimethyl sulphide levels after 13 days. This drawdown was mostly due to the proliferation of diatom stocks. But downward export of biogenic carbon was not increased. Moreover, satellite observations of this massive bloom 30 days later, suggest that a sufficient proportion of the added iron was retained in surface waters. Our findings demonstrate that iron supply controls phytoplankton growth and community composition during summer in these polar Southern Ocean waters, but the fate of algal carbon remains unknown and depends on the interplay between the processes controlling export, remineralisation and timescales of water mass subduction.     

Vast laminated diatom mat deposits from the west low-latitude Pacific Ocean in the last glacial period

Diatoms are one of the predominant contributors to global carbon fixation by accounting for over 40% of total oceanic primary production and dominate export production. They play a significant role in marine biogeochemistry cycle. The diatom mat deposits are results of vast diatoms bloom. By analysis of diatom mats in 136°00′--140°00′E, 15°00′--21°00′N, Eastern Philippines Sea, we identified the species of the diatoms as giant Ethmodiscus rex （Wallich） Hendey. AMS 14C dating shows that the sediments rich in diatom mats occurred during 16000--28600 a B.P., which means the bloom mainly occurred during the last glacial period, while there are no diatom mat deposits in other layers. Preliminary analysis indicates that Antarctic Intermediate Water （AAIW） expanded northward and brought silicate-rich water into the area, namely, silicon leakage processes caused the bloom of diatoms. In addition, the increase of iron input is one of the main reasons for the diatom bloom.     

Bacterial photosynthesis in surface waters of the open ocean

The oxidation of the global ocean by cyanobacterial oxygenic photosynthesis, about 2,100 Myr ago, is presumed to have limited anoxygenic bacterial photosynthesis to oceanic regions that are both anoxic and illuminated. The discovery of oxygen-requiring photosynthetic bacteria about 20 years ago changed this notion, indicating that anoxygenic bacterial photosynthesis could persist under oxidizing conditions. However, the distribution of aerobic photosynthetic bacteria in the world oceans, their photosynthetic competence and their relationship to oxygenic photoautotrophs on global scales are unknown. Here we report the first biophysical evidence demonstrating that aerobic bacterial photosynthesis is widespread in tropical surface waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean and in temperate coastal waters of the northwestern Atlantic. Our results indicate that these organisms account for 2-5% of the photosynthetic electron transport in the upper ocean.     

The Phaeodactylum genome reveals the evolutionary history of diatom genomes

Diatoms are photosynthetic secondary endosymbionts found throughout marine and freshwater environments, and are believed to be responsible for around one-fifth of the primary productivity on Earth. The genome sequence of the marine centric diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana was recently reported, revealing a wealth of information about diatom biology. Here we report the complete genome sequence of the pennate diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum and compare it with that of T. pseudonana to clarify evolutionary origins, functional significance and ubiquity of these features throughout diatoms. In spite of the fact that the pennate and centric lineages have only been diverging for 90 million years, their genome structures are dramatically different and a substantial fraction of genes ( approximately 40%) are not shared by these representatives of the two lineages. Analysis of molecular divergence compared with yeasts and metazoans reveals rapid rates of gene diversification in diatoms. Contributing factors include selective gene family expansions, differential losses and gains of genes and introns, and differential mobilization of transposable elements. Most significantly, we document the presence of hundreds of genes from bacteria. More than 300 of these gene transfers are found in both diatoms, attesting to their ancient origins, and many are likely to provide novel possibilities for metabolite management and for perception of environmental signals. These findings go a long way towards explaining the incredible diversity and success of the diatoms in contemporary oceans.     

海洋浮游植物休眠期的生态学研究

休眠期是甲藻和硅藻抵御外界不利环境条件的一种有效的生理反应机制，也是许多赤潮藻生活史中的一个重要生活阶段．从生态分布、生态作用尤其是在赤潮生消过程中的作用等角度简述了海洋浮游甲藻和硅藻休眠期的生态学的研究情况，并对二者的生态学特征进行比较．甲藻孢囊和硅藻休止细胞在海洋沉积物中的丰度有明显差别，前者较后者具有更明显的季节性萌发能力．温度和光照是影响二者萌发的重要生态因子，温度是甲藻孢囊萌发不可或缺的因素，而光照是硅藻休止细胞萌发的触发因子．二者在种源策略和生态特征上的差异导致了不同的群落演替模式和引发藻华的机制．     

Combined effects of solar UV radiation and CO2-induced seawater acidification on photosynthetic carbon fixation of phytoplankton assemblages in the South China Sea

We carried out short term pCO₂/pH perturbation experiments in the coastal waters of the South China Sea to evaluate the combined effects of seawater acidification (low pH/high pCO₂) and solar UV radiation (UVR, 280–400 nm) on photosynthetic carbon fixation of phytoplankton assemblages. Under photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) alone treatments, reduced pCO² (190 ppmv) with increased pH resulted in a significant decrease in the photosynthetic carbon fixation rate (about 23%), while enriched pCO₂ (700 ppmv) with lowered pH had no significant effect on the photosynthetic performance compared to the ambient level. The apparent photosynthetic efficiency decreased under the reduced pCO₂ level, probably due to C-limitation as well as energy being diverged for up-regulation of carbon concentrating mechanisms (CCMs). In the presence of UVR, both UV-A and UV-B caused photosynthetic inhibition, though UV-A appeared to enhance the photosynthetic efficiency under lower PAR levels. UV-B caused less inhibition of photosynthesis under the reduced pCO₂ level, probably because of its contribution to the inorganic carbon (Ci)-acquisition processes. Under the seawater acidification conditions (enriched pCO₂), both UV-A and UV-B reduced the photosynthetic carbon fixation to higher extents compared to the ambient pCO₂ conditions. We conclude that solar UV and seawater acidification could synergistically inhibit photosynthesis.     

Architecture and material properties of diatom shells provide effective mechanical protection

Diatoms are the major contributors to phytoplankton blooms in lakes and in the sea and hence are central in aquatic ecosystems and the global carbon cycle. All free-living diatoms differ from other phytoplankton groups in having silicified cell walls in the form of two 'shells' (the frustule) of manifold shape and intricate architecture whose function and role, if any, in contributing to the evolutionary success of diatoms is under debate. We explored the defence potential of the frustules as armour against predators by measuring their strength. Real and virtual loading tests (using calibrated glass microneedles and finite element analysis) were performed on centric and pennate diatom cells. Here we show that the frustules are remarkably strong by virtue of their architecture and the material properties of the diatom silica. We conclude that diatom frustules have evolved as mechanical protection for the cells because exceptional force is required to break them. The evolutionary arms race between diatoms and their specialized predators will have had considerable influence in structuring pelagic food webs and biogeochemical cycles.     

广西金鸡滩库区水深梯度下的硅藻生态特征研究

基于生物群落结构的生态水文特征,特别是水深梯度下的硅藻生物群落差异为研究历史水位变迁提供了重要依据,亦为水质生物监测的合理采样水深提供参考意见.通过采集金鸡滩库区不同水深下的附生硅藻,研究了喀斯特地区水深梯度下的硅藻分布特征,探讨了金鸡滩库区硅藻种属对水深变化的响应.研究结果表明曲壳藻属是该库区的绝对优势种,在2.2m深处达到峰值;在水深梯度上,桥弯藻属和脆杆藻属的丰度减小,异极藻属和直链藻属的丰度增加.硅藻的生态类群特征为:硅藻种群的耐污性和N-异氧类群增加,营养偏好和pH偏好呈波动变化,盐度偏好变化不明显.在不同水深下,各指数的相对离散程度很低,认为在合理水深内的生物采样对水质生物评价影响较小;在响应水深梯度上,SHE是所有生物指数中较理想的.该研究结果为重塑本地区的古水位、古洪水提供了重要的理论依据,对硅藻生物监测水质具有一定的指导意义.     

Spatial coupling of nitrogen inputs and losses in the ocean

Nitrogen fixation is crucial for maintaining biological productivity in the oceans, because it replaces the biologically available nitrogen that is lost through denitrification. But, owing to its temporal and spatial variability, the global distribution of marine nitrogen fixation is difficult to determine from direct shipboard measurements. This uncertainty limits our understanding of the factors that influence nitrogen fixation, which may include iron, nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratios, and physical conditions such as temperature. Here we determine nitrogen fixation rates in the world's oceans through their impact on nitrate and phosphate concentrations in surface waters, using an ocean circulation model. Our results indicate that nitrogen fixation rates are highest in the Pacific Ocean, where water column denitrification rates are high but the rate of atmospheric iron deposition is low. We conclude that oceanic nitrogen fixation is closely tied to the generation of nitrogen-deficient waters in denitrification zones, supporting the view that nitrogen fixation stabilizes the oceanic inventory of fixed nitrogen over time.     

Diatom carbon export enhanced by silicate upwelling in the northeast Atlantic

Diatoms are unicellular or chain-forming phytoplankton that use silicon (Si) in cell wall construction. Their survival during periods of apparent nutrient exhaustion enhances carbon sequestration in frontal regions of the northern North Atlantic. These regions may therefore have a more important role in the 'biological pump' than they have previously been attributed, but how this is achieved is unknown. Diatom growth depends on silicate availability, in addition to nitrate and phosphate, but northern Atlantic waters are richer in nitrate than silicate. Following the spring stratification, diatoms are the first phytoplankton to bloom. Once silicate is exhausted, diatom blooms subside in a major export event. Here we show that, with nitrate still available for new production, the diatom bloom is prolonged where there is a periodic supply of new silicate: specifically, diatoms thrive by 'mining' deep-water silicate brought to the surface by an unstable ocean front. The mechanism we present here is not limited to silicate fertilization; similar mechanisms could support nitrate-, phosphate- or iron-limited frontal regions in oceans elsewhere.     

汉江中下游硅藻群落时空分布及其影响因素研究

为研究汉江中下游水体和沉积物硅藻的时空分布特征及其影响因素, 于2014年春、秋两季对汉江中下游5个监测断面的硅藻群落进行监测。基于18S rRNA Illumina Miseq高通量测序技术的鉴定结果, 共得到硅藻3纲28目49科111属160种, 其中沉积物硅藻占98.6%。物种丰度显著多于已有研究的结果, 体现了高通量测序技术在硅藻物种鉴定上的优势。水体和沉积物硅藻群落组成和优势种有显著差异, 水体中硅藻优势种为Pinnularia, Cyclotella和Nitzschia, 沉积物中硅藻优势种为Pinnularia, Nitzschia和Navicula。汉江中下游硅藻群落多样性的时空差异明显, 硅藻多样性存在空间异质性, 且沉积物硅藻比水体硅藻多样性丰富; 在季节影响方面, 表现为秋季硅藻物种多样性比春季丰富。总氮、氨氮、硝态氮和总磷等环境因素对硅藻群落组成影响较大, 因此氮磷控制对避免汉江中下游硅藻水华发生具有重要意义。     

A massive phytoplankton bloom induced by an ecosystem-scale iron fertilization experiment in the equatorial Pacific Ocean

The seeding of an expanse of surface waters in the equatorial Pacific Ocean with low concentrations of dissolved iron triggered a massive phytoplankton bloom which consumed large quantities of carbon dioxide and nitrate that these microscopic plants cannot fully utilize under natural conditions. These and other observations provide unequivocal support for the hypothesis that phytoplankton growth in this oceanic region is limited by iron bioavailability.     

4种海洋底栖硅藻4个培养时期总脂及脂肪酸动态考察研究

对大连近海分离到的4种海洋底栖硅藻4个培养时期（3、8、15、25d）的总脂含量变化及脂肪酸组成进行了动态测定和分析．结果表明：4种海洋底栖硅藻细胞内总脂含量均较高,其中培养8d的半裸舟形藻总脂含量最高,占干重的49．1％．在培养过程中,C16：0和C16：1含量始终较高,分别为5．79％-59．15％和19．26％-73．73％．除菱形藻外,其他3种底栖硅藻脂肪酸组成不仅较丰富,而且均检测到含有EPA和DHA．综合考虑脂肪酸多样性、EPA和DHA含量以及生物量,半裸舟形藻、小形舟形藻和双尖菱板藻细头变种分别在8、15和8d适宜采收作饵料．     

东海陆架与冲绳海槽晚第四纪沉积硅藻的对比研究

通过对东海陆架DG9617孔以及冲绳海槽A孔和B孔岩芯沉积硅藻进行高分辨率的采样分析,总共鉴定出166种和变种,其中有近14个主要硅藻种在3个钻孔中都连续分布,且有较高的含量,而其余种类含量较低或分布不连续或仅零星检出.根据3个钻孔岩芯中产出硅藻属种组成、含量变化及热带远洋种丰度等特征建立起各自的硅藻组合带.通过对比分析,表明硅藻植物群在东海陆架及冲绳海槽不同沉积环境条件下均记录了自晚第四纪以来古海洋、古气候的变化.     

夏季南极长城湾沿岸海域浮游硅藻群落定量分析

对南极硅藻进行定量研究较有必要,以客观准确地了解它的组成和分布特征。在南极长城湾沿岸海域共设置6个采样点,每个采样点定量采集3个浮游硅藻样本。结果显示:长城湾海域共发现浮游硅藻31种。浮游硅藻群落的优势种为Cocconesi fasciolata(18.5%)、Amphora holsatica(13.6%)。次优势种为Cocconeis costata(7.1%)、Cocconeis imperatrix(6.8%)、Thalassiosira antarctica(6.4%)、Rhoicosphenia genuflexa(6.1%)、Licmophora antarctica(5.1%)。各样点浮游硅藻细胞密度总平均值为1.92×10~5ind·L~(-1),变幅为1.44×10~5~2.56×10~5ind·L~(-1)。浮游硅藻的分布从湾心到湾口呈现出一定趋势:浮游硅藻的物种丰度,湾心处共15种,湾口处共25种;浮游硅藻的细胞密度,湾心处平均为2.51×10~5ind·L-1,湾口处平均为1.48×10~5ind·L~(-1)。通过相关性分析结果可知,浮游硅藻由湾心到湾口,物种丰度和硅藻细胞密度呈负相关。     

中华盒形藻三类大小细胞的生化组成

用ｆ／２培养液培养的中华盒形藻的三类不同大小细胞进行生化组成分析，结果表明，蛋白质、氨基酸、核酸、糖类和叶绿素等在细胞中的含量随细胞的缩小而减少，其中，糖类减少的比例最小，在小型细胞中糖类相应于蛋白质增加１３．５％。三类细胞中的Ｃ／Ｎ比值分别为３．８，４．３和４．７，反映该藻细胞在缩小期间碳水化合物比含氮化物更多的积累。这显示，硅藻细胞从营养生长期过滤到生殖生长期过程，除了细胞大小参数外，细胞中的     

黄河玛曲至临河段硅藻群落组成及水质评价

为深入了解黄河玛曲至临河段这一重要水源地的水质,于2015年春季和秋季分别在10个采样断面采集硅藻群落样品.利用形态学鉴定方法,共鉴定出硅藻2纲9目12科13属24种.NMDS和ANOSIM分析结果显示,硅藻群落组成具有显著的季节差异,春季硅藻的细胞密度和生物量均低于秋季.基于硅藻指示生物法和香农多样性指数(H)法进行...