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Daily changes in phytoplankton lipidomes reveal mechanisms of energy storage in the open ocean

Author

Listed:
  • Kevin W. Becker

    (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

  • James R. Collins

    (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Joint Program in Oceanography
    University of Washington)

  • Bryndan P. Durham

    (University of Washington)

  • Ryan D. Groussman

    (University of Washington)

  • Angelicque E. White

    (Oregon State University)

  • Helen F. Fredricks

    (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

  • Justin E. Ossolinski

    (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

  • Daniel J. Repeta

    (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

  • Paul Carini

    (Oregon State University
    University of Arizona)

  • E. Virginia Armbrust

    (University of Washington)

  • Benjamin A. S. Van Mooy

    (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

Abstract

Sunlight is the dominant control on phytoplankton biosynthetic activity, and darkness deprives them of their primary external energy source. Changes in the biochemical composition of phytoplankton communities over diel light cycles and attendant consequences for carbon and energy flux in environments remain poorly elucidated. Here we use lipidomic data from the North Pacific subtropical gyre to show that biosynthesis of energy-rich triacylglycerols (TAGs) by eukaryotic nanophytoplankton during the day and their subsequent consumption at night drives a large and previously uncharacterized daily carbon cycle. Diel oscillations in TAG concentration comprise 23 ± 11% of primary production by eukaryotic nanophytoplankton representing a global flux of about 2.4 Pg C yr−1. Metatranscriptomic analyses of genes required for TAG biosynthesis indicate that haptophytes and dinoflagellates are active members in TAG production. Estimates suggest that these organisms could contain as much as 40% more calories at sunset than at sunrise due to TAG production.

Suggested Citation

  • Kevin W. Becker & James R. Collins & Bryndan P. Durham & Ryan D. Groussman & Angelicque E. White & Helen F. Fredricks & Justin E. Ossolinski & Daniel J. Repeta & Paul Carini & E. Virginia Armbrust & B, 2018. "Daily changes in phytoplankton lipidomes reveal mechanisms of energy storage in the open ocean," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-07346-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07346-z
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    Cited by:

    1. Ben P. Diaz & Ben Knowles & Christopher T. Johns & Christien P. Laber & Karen Grace V. Bondoc & Liti Haramaty & Frank Natale & Elizabeth L. Harvey & Sasha J. Kramer & Luis M. Bolaños & Daniel P. Lowen, 2021. "Seasonal mixed layer depth shapes phytoplankton physiology, viral production, and accumulation in the North Atlantic," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-16, December.
    2. Kyle Mason-Jones & Andreas Breidenbach & Jens Dyckmans & Callum C. Banfield & Michaela A. Dippold, 2023. "Intracellular carbon storage by microorganisms is an overlooked pathway of biomass growth," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Stephen J. Beckett & David Demory & Ashley R. Coenen & John R. Casey & Mathilde Dugenne & Christopher L. Follett & Paige Connell & Michael C. G. Carlson & Sarah K. Hu & Samuel T. Wilson & Daniel Murat, 2024. "Disentangling top-down drivers of mortality underlying diel population dynamics of Prochlorococcus in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.

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