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Survival of Nutrient-Starved Diatoms Under Ocean Acidification: Perspective from Nutrient Sensing, Cadmium Detection, and Nitrogen Assimilation

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Abstract

Increased anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) have resulted in ocean acidification (OA) that is intertwined with enhanced ocean stratification. Diatoms are assumed to suffer from a more nutrient-limited condition in the future ocean. This study aimed to explore how OA affects the diatom dynamics under nutrient-poor conditions and the ability of diatoms to perceive nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, silicon, and trace metals) and cadmium (Cd) stimuli and assimilate nitrogen when receiving nutrients or Cd supplementation. Our study observed that diatom population grown under OA condition declined faster than those grown under ambient condition. Ocean acidification greatly lower intracellular Ca2+ concentration in diatom cells. Intracellular Ca2+ burst was involved in phosphorus accumulation but not in nitrogen, silicon, essential metals, and cadmium uptake. Our data demonstrate slower NO3– assimilation rates of diatoms grown in acidified seawater. Our study also indicates that diatoms have a poor perception of phosphorus availability under OA condition.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by The National Natural Science Foundation of China (41976140; U23A2048;42376152); Hong Kong Research Grants Council (16101622); The Guangxi Key R&D Program of China (GUIKE 20234B28005); Shenzhen Science and Technology Program (JCYJ20220531103015035); Special Program of Key Sectors in Guangdong Universities (2022ZDZX4040; 2023KCXTD028).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. SZU-HKUST Joint PhD Program in Marine Environmental Science, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China

    Zhen Zhang & Ke Pan

  2. Department of Ocean Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, SAR, China

    Zhen Zhang & Hongbin Liu

  3. Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China

    Ke Pan

  4. Hong Kong Branch of Southern Marine Science & Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China

    Hongbin Liu

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  1. Zhen Zhang
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  2. Ke Pan
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Correspondence to Ke Pan or Hongbin Liu.

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Zhang, Z., Pan, K. & Liu, H. Survival of Nutrient-Starved Diatoms Under Ocean Acidification: Perspective from Nutrient Sensing, Cadmium Detection, and Nitrogen Assimilation. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 112, 21 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-023-03849-8

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