scholarly journals Response of <i>Nodularia spumigena</i> to <i>p</i>CO<sub>2</sub> – Part 1: Growth, production and nitrogen cycling

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 2973-2988 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Wannicke ◽  
S. Endres ◽  
A. Engel ◽  
H.-P. Grossart ◽  
M. Nausch ◽  
...  

Abstract. Heterocystous cyanobacteria of the genus Nodularia form extensive blooms in the Baltic Sea and contribute substantially to the total annual primary production. Moreover, they dispense a large fraction of new nitrogen to the ecosystem when inorganic nitrogen concentration in summer is low. Thus, it is of ecological importance to know how Nodularia will react to future environmental changes, in particular to increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations and what consequences there might arise for cycling of organic matter in the Baltic Sea. Here, we determined carbon (C) and dinitrogen (N2) fixation rates, growth, elemental stoichiometry of particulate organic matter and nitrogen turnover in batch cultures of the heterocystous cyanobacterium Nodularia spumigena under low (median 315 μatm), mid (median 353 μatm), and high (median 548 μatm) CO2 concentrations. Our results demonstrate an overall stimulating effect of rising pCO2 on C and N2 fixation, as well as on cell growth. An increase in pCO2 during incubation days 0 to 9 resulted in an elevation in growth rate by 84 ± 38% (low vs. high pCO2) and 40 ± 25% (mid vs. high pCO2), as well as in N2 fixation by 93 ± 35% and 38 ± 1%, respectively. C uptake rates showed high standard deviations within treatments and in between sampling days. Nevertheless, C fixation in the high pCO2 treatment was elevated compared to the other two treatments by 97% (high vs. low) and 44% (high vs. mid) at day 0 and day 3, but this effect diminished afterwards. Additionally, elevation in carbon to nitrogen and nitrogen to phosphorus ratios of the particulate biomass formed (POC : POP and PON : POP) was observed at high pCO2. Our findings suggest that rising pCO2 stimulates the growth of heterocystous diazotrophic cyanobacteria, in a similar way as reported for the non-heterocystous diazotroph Trichodesmium. Implications for biogeochemical cycling and food web dynamics, as well as ecological and socio-economical aspects in the Baltic Sea are discussed.

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 2481-2522 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Wannicke ◽  
S. Endres ◽  
A. Engel ◽  
H.-P. Grossart ◽  
M. Nausch ◽  
...  

Abstract. Heterocystous cyanobacteria of the genus Nodularia form extensive blooms in the Baltic Sea contributing substantially to the total annual primary production. Moreover, they dispense a large fraction of new nitrogen to the ecosystem, when inorganic nitrogen concentration in summer is low. Thus, it is of great ecological importance to know how Nodularia will react to future environmental changes, in particular to increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations and what consequences there might arise for cycling of organic matter in the ocean. Here, we determined carbon (C) and dinitrogen (N2) fixation rates, growth, elemental stoichiometry of particulate organic matter and nitrogen turnover during batch growth of the heterocystous cyanobacterium Nodularia spumigena under glacial (180 ppm), present (380 ppm), and future (780 ppm) CO2 concentrations. Our results demonstrate an overall stimulating effect of rising pCO2 on C and N2 fixation, as well as on cell growth. An increase in pCO2 resulted in an elevation in growth rate, C and N2 fixation by 23%, 36% and 25%, respectively (180 ppm vs. 380 ppm) and by 27%, 2% and 4%, respectively (380 ppm vs. 780 ppm). Additionally, elevation in the carbon and nitrogen to phosphorus quota of the particulate biomass formed (POC:POP and PON:POP) was observed at high pCO2. Our findings suggest that rising pCO2 stimulates the growth of heterocystous diazotrophic cyanobacteria, in a similar way as reported for non-heterocystous diazotrophs. Implications for biogeochemical cycling and food web dynamics, as well as ecological and socio-economical aspects in the Baltic Sea are discussed.


2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 2815-2821 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federico Baltar ◽  
Catherine Legrand ◽  
Jarone Pinhassi

Abstract. Extracellular enzymatic activities (EEAs) are a crucial step in the degradation of organic matter. Dissolved (cell-free) extracellular enzymes in seawater can make up a significant contribution of the bulk EEA. However, the factors controlling the proportion of dissolved EEA in the marine environment remain unknown. Here we studied the seasonal changes in the proportion of dissolved relative to total EEA (of alkaline phosphatase (APase), β-glucosidase (BGase), and leucine aminopeptidase (LAPase)), in the Baltic Sea for 18 months. The proportion of dissolved EEA ranged between 37 and 100, 0 and 100, and 34 and 100 % for APase, BGase, and LAPase, respectively. A consistent seasonal pattern in the proportion of dissolved EEA was found among all the studied enzymes, with values up to 100 % during winter and  <  40 % during summer. A significant negative relation was found between the proportion of dissolved EEA and temperature, indicating that temperature might be a critical factor controlling the proportion of dissolved relative to total EEA in marine environments. Our results suggest a strong decoupling of hydrolysis rates from microbial dynamics in cold waters. This implies that under cold conditions, cell-free enzymes can contribute to substrate availability at large distances from the producing cell, increasing the dissociation between the hydrolysis of organic compounds and the actual microbes producing the enzymes. This might also suggest a potential effect of global warming on the hydrolysis of organic matter via a reduction of the contribution of cell-free enzymes to the bulk hydrolytic activity.


2006 ◽  
Vol 51 (5) ◽  
pp. 2300-2307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pirjo Kuuppo ◽  
Pauliina Uronen ◽  
Anika Petermann ◽  
Timo Tamminen ◽  
Edna Granéli

2014 ◽  
Vol 132 ◽  
pp. 106-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karol Kuliński ◽  
Bernd Schneider ◽  
Karoline Hammer ◽  
Ulrike Machulik ◽  
Detlef Schulz-Bull

Ocean Science ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 683-701 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Wan ◽  
J. She ◽  
M. Maar ◽  
L. Jonasson ◽  
J. Baasch-Larsen

Abstract. Thanks to the abundant observation data, we are able to deploy the traditional point-to-point comparison and statistical measures in combination with a comprehensive model validation scheme to assess the skills of the biogeochemical model ERGOM in providing an operational service for the Baltic Sea. The model assessment concludes that the operational products can resolve the main observed seasonal features for phytoplankton biomass, dissolved inorganic nitrogen, dissolved inorganic phosphorus and dissolved oxygen in euphotic layers as well as their vertical profiles. This assessment reflects that the model errors of the operational system at the current stage are mainly caused by insufficient light penetration, excessive organic particle export downward, insufficient regional adaptation and some from improper initialization. This study highlights the importance of applying multiple schemes in order to assess model skills rigidly and identify main causes for major model errors.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Violetta Drozdowska ◽  
Iwona Wróbel ◽  
Piotr Markuszewski ◽  
Przemyslaw Makuch ◽  
Anna Raczkowska ◽  
...  

Abstract. The fluorescence and absorption measurements of the samples collected from a surface microlayer (SML) and a subsurface layer (SS), a depth of 1 m were studied during three research cruises in the Baltic Sea along with hydrophysical studies and meteorological observations. Several absorption (E2 : E3, S, SR) and fluorescence (fluorescence intensities at peaks: A, C, M, T, the ratio (M + T) / (A + C), HIX) indices of colored and fluorescent organic matter (CDOM and FDOM) helped to describe the changes in molecular size and weight as well as in composition of organic matter. The investigation allow to assess a decrease in the contribution of two terrestrial components (A and C) with increasing salinity (~ 1.64 % and ~ 1.89 % in SML and ~ 0.78 % and ~ 0.71 % in SS, respectively) and an increase of in-situ produced components (M and T) with salinity (~ 0.52 % and ~ 2.83 % in SML and ~ 0.98 % and ~ 1.87 % in SS, respectively). Hence, a component T reveals the biggest relative changes along the transect from the Vistula River outlet to Gdansk Deep, both in SML and SS, however an increase was higher in SML than in SS (~ 18.5 % and ~ 12.3 %, respectively). The ratio E2 : E3


2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (17) ◽  
pp. 4913-4924 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Korth ◽  
B. Deutsch ◽  
C. Frey ◽  
C. Moros ◽  
M. Voss

Abstract. Nitrate (NO3−) is the major nutrient responsible for coastal eutrophication worldwide and its production is related to intensive food production and fossil-fuel combustion. In the Baltic Sea NO3− inputs have increased 4-fold over recent decades and now remain constantly high. NO3− source identification is therefore an important consideration in environmental management strategies. In this study focusing on the Baltic Sea, we used a method to estimate the proportional contributions of NO3− from atmospheric deposition, N2 fixation, and runoff from pristine soils as well as from agricultural land. Our approach combines data on the dual isotopes of NO3− (δ15N-NO3− and δ18O-NO3−) in winter surface waters with a Bayesian isotope mixing model (Stable Isotope Analysis in R, SIAR). Based on data gathered from 47 sampling locations over the entire Baltic Sea, the majority of the NO3− in the southern Baltic was shown to derive from runoff from agricultural land (33–100%), whereas in the northern Baltic, i.e. the Gulf of Bothnia, NO3− originates from nitrification in pristine soils (34–100%). Atmospheric deposition accounts for only a small percentage of NO3− levels in the Baltic Sea, except for contributions from northern rivers, where the levels of atmospheric NO3− are higher. An additional important source in the central Baltic Sea is N2 fixation by diazotrophs, which contributes 49–65% of the overall NO3− pool at this site. The results obtained with this method are in good agreement with source estimates based upon δ15N values in sediments and a three-dimensional ecosystem model, ERGOM. We suggest that this approach can be easily modified to determine NO3− sources in other marginal seas or larger near-coastal areas where NO3− is abundant in winter surface waters when fractionation processes are minor.


2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 567-582 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Endres ◽  
J. Unger ◽  
N. Wannicke ◽  
M. Nausch ◽  
M. Voss ◽  
...  

Abstract. The filamentous and diazotrophic cyanobacterium Nodularia spumigena plays a major role in the productivity of the Baltic Sea as it forms extensive blooms regularly. Under phosphorus limiting conditions Nodularia spumigena have a high enzyme affinity for dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) by production and release of alkaline phosphatase. Additionally, they are able to degrade proteinaceous compounds by expressing the extracellular enzyme leucine aminopeptidase. As atmospheric CO2 concentrations are increasing, we expect marine phytoplankton to experience changes in several environmental parameters, including pH, temperature, and nutrient availability. The aim of this study was to investigate the combined effect of CO2-induced changes in seawater carbonate chemistry and of phosphate deficiency on the exudation of organic matter, and its subsequent recycling by extracellular enzymes in a Nodularia spumigena culture. Batch cultures of Nodularia spumigena were grown for 15 days under aeration with low (180 μatm), medium (380 μatm), and high (780 μatm) CO2 concentrations. Obtained pCO2 levels in the treatments were on median 315, 353, and 548 μatm CO2, respectively. Extracellular enzyme activities as well as changes in organic and inorganic compound concentrations were monitored. CO2 treatment–related effects were identified for cyanobacterial growth, which in turn influenced the concentration of mucinous substances and the recycling of organic matter by extracellular enzymes. Biomass production was increased by 56.5% and 90.7% in the medium and high pCO2 treatment, respectively, compared to the low pCO2 treatment. In total, significantly more mucinous substances accumulated in the high pCO2 treatment, reaching 363 μg Xeq L−1 compared to 269 μg Xeq L−1 in the low pCO2 treatment. However, cell-specific rates did not change. After phosphate depletion, the acquisition of P from DOP by alkaline phosphatase was significantly enhanced. Alkaline phosphatase activities were increased by factor 1.64 and 2.25, respectively, in the medium and high compared to the low pCO2 treatment. We hypothesise from our results that Nodularia spumigena can grow faster under elevated pCO2 by enhancing the recycling of organic matter to acquire nutrients.


Ocean Science ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1013-1032 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justyna Meler ◽  
Piotr Kowalczuk ◽  
Mirosława Ostrowska ◽  
Dariusz Ficek ◽  
Monika Zabłocka ◽  
...  

Abstract. This study presents three alternative models for estimating the absorption properties of chromophoric dissolved organic matter aCDOM(λ). For this analysis we used a database containing 556 absorption spectra measured in 2006–2009 in different regions of the Baltic Sea (open and coastal waters, the Gulf of Gdańsk and the Pomeranian Bay), at river mouths, in the Szczecin Lagoon and also in three lakes in Pomerania (Poland) – Obłęskie, Łebsko and Chotkowskie. The variability range of the chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) absorption coefficient at 400 nm, aCDOM(400), lay within 0.15–8.85 m−1. The variability in aCDOM(λ) was parameterized with respect to the variability over 3 orders of magnitude in the chlorophyll a concentration Chl a (0.7–119 mg m−3). The chlorophyll a concentration and aCDOM(400) were correlated, and a statistically significant, nonlinear empirical relationship between these parameters was derived (R2 =  0.83). On the basis of the covariance between these parameters, we derived two empirical mathematical models that enabled us to design the CDOM absorption coefficient dynamics in natural waters and reconstruct the complete CDOM absorption spectrum in the UV and visible spectral domains. The input variable in the first model was the chlorophyll a concentration, and in the second one it was aCDOM(400). Both models were fitted to a power function, and a second-order polynomial function was used as the exponent. Regression coefficients for these formulas were determined for wavelengths from 240 to 700 nm at 5 nm intervals. Both approximations reflected the real shape of the absorption spectra with a low level of uncertainty. Comparison of these approximations with other models of light absorption by CDOM demonstrated that our parameterizations were superior (bias from −1.45 to 62 %, RSME from 22 to 220 %) for estimating CDOM absorption in the optically complex waters of the Baltic Sea and Pomeranian lakes.


2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andre Acksel ◽  
Wulf Amelung ◽  
Peter Kühn ◽  
Ernst Gehrt ◽  
Tom Regier ◽  
...  

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