Phosphate limitation intensifies negative effects of ocean acidification on globally important nitrogen fixing cyanobacterium

Futing Zhang, Zuozhu Wen, Shanlin Wang, Weiyi Tang, Ya-Wei Luo, Sven A. Kranz, Haizheng Hong () and Dalin Shi ()
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Futing Zhang: Xiamen University
Zuozhu Wen: Xiamen University
Shanlin Wang: Xiamen University
Weiyi Tang: Princeton University
Ya-Wei Luo: Xiamen University
Sven A. Kranz: Florida State University
Haizheng Hong: Xiamen University
Dalin Shi: Xiamen University

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Growth of the prominent nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium Trichodesmium is often limited by phosphorus availability in the ocean. How nitrogen fixation by phosphorus-limited Trichodesmium may respond to ocean acidification remains poorly understood. Here, we use phosphate-limited chemostat experiments to show that acidification enhanced phosphorus demands and decreased phosphorus-specific nitrogen fixation rates in Trichodesmium. The increased phosphorus requirements were attributed primarily to elevated cellular polyphosphate contents, likely for maintaining cytosolic pH homeostasis in response to acidification. Alongside the accumulation of polyphosphate, decreased NADP(H):NAD(H) ratios and impaired chlorophyll synthesis and energy production were observed under acidified conditions. Consequently, the negative effects of acidification were amplified compared to those demonstrated previously under phosphorus sufficiency. Estimating the potential implications of this finding, using outputs from the Community Earth System Model, predicts that acidification and dissolved inorganic and organic phosphorus stress could synergistically cause an appreciable decrease in global Trichodesmium nitrogen fixation by 2100.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34586-x

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