Effects of Temperature on Transparent Exopolymer Particle Production and Organic Carbon Allocation of Four Marine Phytoplankton Species
Transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) are sticky polymeric substances that are commonly found in the periphery of microbial cells or colonies. They can naturally flocculate smaller suspended particles into larger aggregates and thus play a crucial role in the biological pump and the global carbon c...
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MDPI AG
2022-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/11/7/1056 |
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| author | Kangli Guo Jie Chen Jian Yuan Xiaodong Wang Shuaishuai Xu Shengwei Hou Yan Wang |
| author_facet | Kangli Guo Jie Chen Jian Yuan Xiaodong Wang Shuaishuai Xu Shengwei Hou Yan Wang |
| author_sort | Kangli Guo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) are sticky polymeric substances that are commonly found in the periphery of microbial cells or colonies. They can naturally flocculate smaller suspended particles into larger aggregates and thus play a crucial role in the biological pump and the global carbon cycle. Phytoplankton are the major contributors to marine TEP production, whereas the way TEP production interacts with abiotic factors at the species level is generally unknown but critical for estimating carbon fluxes. In this study, the effects of temperature on TEP production and carbon allocation were studied in two representative diatom species (<i>Nitzschia closterium</i> and <i>Chaetoceros affinis</i>) and two model dinoflagellate species (<i>Prorocentrum micans</i> and <i>Scrippisella trichoidea</i>). The results showed that temperature had a significant impact on TEP production in all species. First, increased temperature promoted the TEP production of all four species. Second, elevated temperature affected the carbon pool allocation, with enhanced dissolved organic carbon (DOC) exudation in the form of TEP in all species. The TEP-C/DOC percentages of <i>N. closterium</i> and <i>P. micans</i> were 93.42 ± 5.88% and 82.03 ± 21.36% at the highest temperature (24 °C), respectively, which was approximately two to five times higher than those percentages at 16 °C. In contrast, TEP’s contribution to the POC pool is lower than that to the DOC pool, ranging from 6.74 ± 0.79% to 28.31 ± 1.79% for all species. Moreover, phytoplankton TEP production may be related to cellular size and physiology. The TEP content produced by the smallest <i>N. closterium</i> (218.96 ± 15.04 fg Xeq./μm<sup>3</sup>) was ~5 times higher compared to <i>P. micans</i>, <i>S. trichoidea</i>, or <i>C. affinis</i>. In conclusion, TEP production is temperature sensitive and species specific, which should be taken into consideration the regarding TEP-mediated oceanic carbon cycle, particularly in the context of global warming. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:41:03Z |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:41:03Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-02ab207433b945d39e4e9ea6731046522023-12-03T14:40:48ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372022-07-01117105610.3390/biology11071056Effects of Temperature on Transparent Exopolymer Particle Production and Organic Carbon Allocation of Four Marine Phytoplankton SpeciesKangli Guo0Jie Chen1Jian Yuan2Xiaodong Wang3Shuaishuai Xu4Shengwei Hou5Yan Wang6Fourth Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beihai 536007, ChinaFourth Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beihai 536007, ChinaDepartment of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USACollege of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, ChinaCollege of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, ChinaDepartment of Ocean Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaCollege of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, ChinaTransparent exopolymer particles (TEP) are sticky polymeric substances that are commonly found in the periphery of microbial cells or colonies. They can naturally flocculate smaller suspended particles into larger aggregates and thus play a crucial role in the biological pump and the global carbon cycle. Phytoplankton are the major contributors to marine TEP production, whereas the way TEP production interacts with abiotic factors at the species level is generally unknown but critical for estimating carbon fluxes. In this study, the effects of temperature on TEP production and carbon allocation were studied in two representative diatom species (<i>Nitzschia closterium</i> and <i>Chaetoceros affinis</i>) and two model dinoflagellate species (<i>Prorocentrum micans</i> and <i>Scrippisella trichoidea</i>). The results showed that temperature had a significant impact on TEP production in all species. First, increased temperature promoted the TEP production of all four species. Second, elevated temperature affected the carbon pool allocation, with enhanced dissolved organic carbon (DOC) exudation in the form of TEP in all species. The TEP-C/DOC percentages of <i>N. closterium</i> and <i>P. micans</i> were 93.42 ± 5.88% and 82.03 ± 21.36% at the highest temperature (24 °C), respectively, which was approximately two to five times higher than those percentages at 16 °C. In contrast, TEP’s contribution to the POC pool is lower than that to the DOC pool, ranging from 6.74 ± 0.79% to 28.31 ± 1.79% for all species. Moreover, phytoplankton TEP production may be related to cellular size and physiology. The TEP content produced by the smallest <i>N. closterium</i> (218.96 ± 15.04 fg Xeq./μm<sup>3</sup>) was ~5 times higher compared to <i>P. micans</i>, <i>S. trichoidea</i>, or <i>C. affinis</i>. In conclusion, TEP production is temperature sensitive and species specific, which should be taken into consideration the regarding TEP-mediated oceanic carbon cycle, particularly in the context of global warming.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/11/7/1056transparent exopolymer particlesdissolved organic carbonparticulate organic carbontemperaturephytoplankton |
| spellingShingle | Kangli Guo Jie Chen Jian Yuan Xiaodong Wang Shuaishuai Xu Shengwei Hou Yan Wang Effects of Temperature on Transparent Exopolymer Particle Production and Organic Carbon Allocation of Four Marine Phytoplankton Species Biology transparent exopolymer particles dissolved organic carbon particulate organic carbon temperature phytoplankton |
| title | Effects of Temperature on Transparent Exopolymer Particle Production and Organic Carbon Allocation of Four Marine Phytoplankton Species |
| title_full | Effects of Temperature on Transparent Exopolymer Particle Production and Organic Carbon Allocation of Four Marine Phytoplankton Species |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Temperature on Transparent Exopolymer Particle Production and Organic Carbon Allocation of Four Marine Phytoplankton Species |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Temperature on Transparent Exopolymer Particle Production and Organic Carbon Allocation of Four Marine Phytoplankton Species |
| title_short | Effects of Temperature on Transparent Exopolymer Particle Production and Organic Carbon Allocation of Four Marine Phytoplankton Species |
| title_sort | effects of temperature on transparent exopolymer particle production and organic carbon allocation of four marine phytoplankton species |
| topic | transparent exopolymer particles dissolved organic carbon particulate organic carbon temperature phytoplankton |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/11/7/1056 |
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