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In many oceanic regions, anthropogenic warming will coincide with iron (Fe) limitation. Interactive effects between warming and Fe limitation on phytoplankton physiology and biochemical function are likely, as temperature and Fe availability affect many of the same essential cellular pathways. However, we lack a clear understanding of how globally significant phytoplankton such as the picocyanobacteriaSynechococcuswill respond to these co-occurring stressors, and what underlying molecular mechanisms will drive this response. Moreover, ecotype-specific adaptations can lead to nuanced differences in responses between strains. In this study,Synechococcusisolates YX04-1 (oceanic) and XM-24 (coastal) from the South China Sea were acclimated to Fe limitation at two temperatures, and their physiological and proteomic responses were compared. Both strains exhibited reduced growth due to warming and Fe limitation. However, coastal XM-24 maintained relatively higher growth rates in response to warming under replete Fe, while its growth was notably more compromised under Fe limitation at both temperatures compared with YX04-1. In response to concurrent heat and Fe stress, oceanic YX04-1 was better able to adjust its photosynthetic proteins and minimize the generation of reactive oxygen species while reducing proteome Fe demand. Its intricate proteomic response likely enabled oceanic YX04-1 to mitigate some of the negative impact of warming on its growth during Fe limitation. Our study highlights how ecologically-shaped adaptations inSynechococcusstrains even from proximate oceanic regions can lead to differing physiological and proteomic responses to these climate stressors.
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Distinct iron acquisition strategies in oceanic and coastal variants of the mixotrophic dinoflagellate Karlodinium
Abstract The availability of the micronutrient iron is important in regulating phytoplankton growth across much of the world’s oceans, particularly in the high-nutrient, low-chlorophyll regions. Compared to known mechanisms of iron acquisition and conservation in autotrophic protists (e.g. diatoms), those of dinoflagellates remain unclear, despite their frequent presence in offshore iron-limited waters. Here, we investigate the strategies of an ecologically important mixotrophic dinoflagellate to coping with low iron conditions. Coupled gene expression and physiological responses as a function of iron availability were examined in oceanic and coastal strains of the dinoflagellate Karlodinium. Under iron-replete conditions, grazing was only detected in coastal variants, resulting in faster growth rates compared to when grown autotrophically. Under iron-limited conditions, all isolates exhibited slower growth rates, reduced photosynthetic efficiencies, and lower cellular iron quotas than in iron-replete conditions. However, oceanic isolates exhibited higher relative growth rates compared to coastal isolates under similar low iron concentrations, suggesting they are better adapted to coping under iron limitation. Yet the oceanic isolates did not exhibit the ability to appreciably reduce cell volume or increase iron-use efficiencies compared to the coastal isolates to cope with iron limitation, as often observed in oceanic diatoms. Rather, molecular pathway analysis and corresponding gene expression patterns suggest that oceanic Karlodinium utilizes a high-affinity iron uptake system when iron is low. Our findings reveal cellular mechanisms by which dinoflagellates have adapted to low iron conditions, further shedding light on how they potentially survive in variable iron regions of the world’s oceans.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1751805
- PAR ID:
- 10600251
- Publisher / Repository:
- Oxford University Press
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- The ISME Journal
- Volume:
- 19
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 1751-7362
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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