Global distribution patterns of marine nitrogen-fixers by imaging and molecular methods

Juan José Pierella Karlusich, Eric Pelletier, Fabien Lombard, Madeline Carsique, Etienne Dvorak, Sébastien Colin, Marc Picheral, Francisco M. Cornejo-Castillo, Silvia G. Acinas, Rainer Pepperkok, Eric Karsenti, Colomban de Vargas, Patrick Wincker, Chris Bowler () and Rachel A. Foster ()
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Juan José Pierella Karlusich: Institut de Biologie de l’ENS (IBENS), Département de biologie, École normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL
Eric Pelletier: CNRS Research Federation for the study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GOSEE
Fabien Lombard: CNRS Research Federation for the study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GOSEE
Madeline Carsique: Institut de Biologie de l’ENS (IBENS), Département de biologie, École normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL
Etienne Dvorak: Institut de Biologie de l’ENS (IBENS), Département de biologie, École normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL
Sébastien Colin: European Molecular Biology Laboratory
Marc Picheral: CNRS Research Federation for the study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GOSEE
Francisco M. Cornejo-Castillo: Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Station Biologique de Roscoff, UMR 7144, ECOMAP
Silvia G. Acinas: Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Institut de Ciènces del Mar, CSIC
Rainer Pepperkok: CNRS Research Federation for the study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GOSEE
Eric Karsenti: Institut de Biologie de l’ENS (IBENS), Département de biologie, École normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL
Colomban de Vargas: CNRS Research Federation for the study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GOSEE
Patrick Wincker: CNRS Research Federation for the study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GOSEE
Chris Bowler: Institut de Biologie de l’ENS (IBENS), Département de biologie, École normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL
Rachel A. Foster: Stockholm University

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-18

Abstract: Abstract Nitrogen fixation has a critical role in marine primary production, yet our understanding of marine nitrogen-fixers (diazotrophs) is hindered by limited observations. Here, we report a quantitative image analysis pipeline combined with mapping of molecular markers for mining >2,000,000 images and >1300 metagenomes from surface, deep chlorophyll maximum and mesopelagic seawater samples across 6 size fractions ( 20 µm). Using imaging and molecular data, we estimate that polyploidy can substantially affect gene abundances of symbiotic versus colony-forming diazotrophs. Our results support the canonical view that larger diazotrophs (>10 μm) dominate the tropical belts, while unicellular cyanobacterial and non-cyanobacterial diazotrophs are globally distributed in surface and mesopelagic layers. We describe co-occurring diazotrophic lineages of different lifestyles and identify high-density regions of diazotrophs in the global ocean. Overall, we provide an update of marine diazotroph biogeographical diversity and present a new bioimaging-bioinformatic workflow.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24299-y

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