Refereed journal article or data article (A1)
Fungal parasitism on diatoms alters formation and bio-physical properties of sinking aggregates
List of Authors: Klawonn Isabell, Van den Wyngaert Silke, Iversen Morten H, Walles Tim JW, Flintrop Clara M, Cisternas-Novoa Carolina, Nejstgaard Jens C, Kagami Maiko , Grossart Hans P
Publisher: NATURE PORTFOLIO
Publication year: 2023
Journal: Communications Biology
Journal name in source: COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
Journal acronym: COMMUN BIOL
Article number: 206
Volume number: 6
Issue number: 1
Number of pages: 14
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s42003-023-04453-6
URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-023-04453-6
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/179136857
Phytoplankton forms the base of aquatic food webs and element cycling in diverse aquatic systems. The fate of phytoplankton-derived organic matter, however, often remains unresolved as it is controlled by complex, interlinked remineralization and sedimentation processes. We here investigate a rarely considered control mechanism on sinking organic matter fluxes: fungal parasites infecting phytoplankton. We demonstrate that bacterial colonization is promoted 3.5-fold on fungal-infected phytoplankton cells in comparison to non-infected cells in a cultured model pathosystem (diatom Synedra, fungal microparasite Zygophlyctis, and co-growing bacteria), and even >= 17-fold in field-sampled populations (Planktothrix, Synedra, and Fragilaria). Additional data obtained using the Synedra-Zygophlyctis model system reveals that fungal infections reduce the formation of aggregates. Moreover, carbon respiration is 2-fold higher and settling velocities are 11-48% lower for similar-sized fungal-infected vs. non-infected aggregates. Our data imply that parasites can effectively control the fate of phytoplankton-derived organic matter on a single-cell to single-aggregate scale, potentially enhancing remineralization and reducing sedimentation in freshwater and coastal systems.Fungal parasites are found to effectively control the fate of phytoplankton-derived organic matter, potentially enhancing remineralization and reducing sedimentation in freshwater and coastal systems.
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