Morpho-physiological adaptations of Leptocylindrus aporus and L. hargravesii to phosphate limitation in the northern Adriatic

Kužat, Nataša; Marić Pfannkuchen, Daniela; Smodlaka Tanković, Mirta; Baričević, Ana; Ivančić, Ingrid; Vrana Špoljarić, Ivna; Gašparović, Blaženka; Pfannkuchen, Martin (2022) Morpho-physiological adaptations of Leptocylindrus aporus and L. hargravesii to phosphate limitation in the northern Adriatic. Scientific reports, 12 . ISSN 2045-2322

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Official URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-06062-5

Abstract

The northern Adriatic is highly productive and shallow area characterized by numerous spatio- temporal gradients (e.g. nutrients, salinity, temperature). It is strongly influenced by numerous freshwater inputs, mainly from Po river. Its current systems as well as Po river, generates gradients of phosphate availability with an expressed N/P imbalance and phosphate limitation. A number of recent studies characterized these gradients as major factors affecting abundance and composition of microphytoplankton communities. Focus of this study is on two Leptocylindrus species, Leptocylindrus aporus (F.W. French & Hargraves) D. Nanjappa & A. Zingone 2013 and Leptocylindrus hargravesii D. Nanjappa & A. Zingone 2013. Species belonging to Leptocylindrus genus are frequently observed and have high abundances and also high contributions to the microphytoplankton community in this area. We focused on their morphological and physiological responses to phosphate limitation in situ and also performed in vitro experiments. In this study we report data on species specific growth rates under phosphorus (P) deplete and P rich conditions, localization and characteristics of alkaline phosphate activity, phosphate uptake rates as well as their morphological differences in P deplete versus P rich conditions. Our in vitro experiments showed that both Leptocylindrus species morphologically reacted similarly to phosphorus depletion and showed significantly elongated pervalvar axis in P depleted conditions if compared to P rich conditions. Also average chain lengths increased when in P depleted conditions. Two previously mentioned adaptations indicate their tendency to increase cellular surface areas available for alkaline phosphatase. Chlorophyll fluorescence of both species significantly decreased in P depleted medium. Although both species morphologically reacted similarly, our experiment demonstrated significant differences in physiological reactions to P depleted conditions.

Item Type:

Article

Uncontrolled Keywords:

phytoplankton ; Adriatic Sea ; diatoms ; Leptocylindrus ; APA ; P limitation

Subjects:

NATURAL SCIENCES > Biology
NATURAL SCIENCES > Interdisciplinary Natural Sciences

Divisions:

Center for Marine Research
Division for Marine and Enviromental Research

Projects:

Project title	Project leader	Project code	Project type
Životne strategije fitoplanktona u sjevernom Jadranu	Pfannkuchen, Martin	UIP-2014-09-6563	HRZZ
Molekularne životne strategije fitoplanktona u Jadranu	Marić Pfannkuchen, Daniela	UIP-2020-02-7868	HRZZ
Utjecaj okolišnog stresa na pojavnost i međudjelovanje biološki važnih organskih molekula i mikronutrijenata u morskom ekosustavu	Gašparović, Blaženka	IP-2013-11-8607	HRZZ
Joint European Research Infrastructure of Coastal Observatories: Science, Service, Sustainability	Pfannkuchen, Martin	871153	EK
MARine Litter cross-borderawarenESS and innovation actions	Smodlaka Tanković, Mirta	10253874	EK
CoAStal and marine waters integrated monitoring systems for ecosystems proteCtion AnD managemEnt	Marić Pfannkuchen, Daniela; Ujević, Ivana	10255941	EK
Climate change information, monitoring and management tools for adaptation stgrategies in Adriatic coastal areas	Baričević, Ana; Beg Paklar, Gordana	10252001	EK