Lomas MW, Hopkinson BM, Losh JL, Ryan DE, Shi DL, Xu Y, Morel FMM

Effect of ocean acidification on cyanobacteria in the subtropical North Atlantic

Cyanobacteria contribute significantly to global carbon and nitrogen cycling, particularly in the oligotrophic subtropical and tropical ocean gyres. Colonies of Trichodesmium increased both N₂ and carbon fixation rates under projected pH/pCO₂ conditions, relative to current conditions. In contrast, whole communities dominated by the single-cell cyanobacteria Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus did not show a response of carbon fixation rates to future pH/pCO₂. Time course of carbon fixation responses across pH/pCO₂ treatments suggests a rapid acclimation of cellular physiology in Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus that does not happen in Trichodesmium. These results for natural populations of all three cyanobacteria suggest that while Trichodesmium may display a direct response to changes in ocean pH and pCO₂, the response of single-cell cyanobacteria will likely be indirect and controlled by the response to other variables such as nutrients.

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