Crocosphaera as a Major Consumer of Fixed Nitrogen

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F61388971%3A_____%2F22%3A00603840" target="_blank" >RIV/61388971:_____/22:00603840 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.02177-21" target="_blank" >https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.02177-21</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.02177-21" target="_blank" >10.1128/spectrum.02177-21</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Crocosphaera as a Major Consumer of Fixed Nitrogen

Original language description

Crocosphaera watsonii (hereafter referred to as Crocosphaera) is a key nitrogen (N) fixer in the ocean, but its ability to consume combined-N sources is still unclear. Using in situ microcosm incubations with an ecological model, we show that Crocosphaera has high competitive capability both under low and moderately high combined-N concentrations. In field incubations, Crocosphaera accounted for the highest consumption of ammonium and nitrate, followed by picoeukaryotes. The model analysis shows that cells have a high ammonium uptake rate (similar to 7 mol N [mol N](-1) d(-1) at the maximum), which allows them to compete against picoeukaryotes and nondiazotrophic cyanobacteria when combined N is sufficiently available. Even when combined N is depleted, their capability of nitrogen fixation allows higher growth rates compared to potential competitors. These results suggest the high fitness of Crocosphaera in combined-N limiting, oligotrophic oceans heightening its potential significance in its ecosystem and in biogeochemical cycling. IMPORTANCE Crocosphaera watsonii is as a key nitrogen (N) supplier in marine ecosystems, and it has been estimated to contribute up to half of oceanic N-2 fixation. Conversely, a recent study reported that Crocosphaera can assimilate combined N and proposed that unicellular diazotrophs can be competitors with non-N-2 fixing phytoplankton for combined N. Despite its importance in nitrogen cycling, the methods by which Crocosphaera compete are not currently fully understood. Here, we present a new role of Crocosphaera as a combined-N consumer: a competitor against nondiazotrophic phytoplankton for combined N. In this study, we combined in situ microcosm experiments and an ecosystem model to quantitatively evaluate the combined-N consumption by Crocosphaera and other non-N-2 fixing phytoplankton. Our results suggest the high fitness of Crocosphaera in combined-N limiting, oligotrophic oceans and, thus, heightens its potential significance in its ecosystem and in biogeochemical cycling.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

10606 - Microbiology

Project

<a href="/en/project/GA20-17627S" target="_blank" >GA20-17627S: C and N metabolisms and their impact on ecological significance of unicellular diazotrophic cyanobacteria</a><br>

Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2022

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Microbiology Spectrum

ISSN

2165-0497

e-ISSN

2165-0497

Volume of the periodical

10

Issue of the periodical within the volume

4

Country of publishing house

US - UNITED STATES

Number of pages

10

Pages from-to

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UT code for WoS article

000823130900001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85137138733