Effects of multiple drivers of ocean global change on the physiology and functional gene expression of the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi

Ongoing ocean global change due to anthropogenic activities is causing multiple chemical and physical seawater properties to change simultaneously, which may affect the physiology of marine phytoplankton. The coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi is a model species often employed in the study of the marine carbon cycle. The effect of ocean acidification (OA) on coccolithophore calcification has been extensively studied; however, physiological responses to multiple environmental drivers are still largely unknown. Here we examined two‐way and multiple driver effects of OA and other key environmental drivers—nitrate, phosphate, irradiance, and temperature—on the growth, photosynthetic, and calcification rates, and the elemental composition of E. huxleyi. In addition, changes in functional gene expression were examined to understand the molecular mechanisms underpinning the physiological responses. The single driver manipulation experiments suggest decreased nitrate supply being the most important driver regulating E. huxleyi physiology, by significantly reducing the growth, photosynthetic, and calcification rates. In addition, the interaction of OA and decreased nitrate supply (projected for year 2100) had more negative synergistic effects on E. huxleyi physiology than all other two‐way factorial manipulations, suggesting a linkage between the single dominant driver (nitrate) effects and interactive effects with other drivers. Simultaneous manipulation of all five environmental drivers to the conditions of the projected year 2100 had the largest negative effects on most of the physiological metrics. Furthermore, functional genes associated with inorganic carbon acquisition (RubisCO, AEL1, and δCA) and calcification (CAX3, AEL1, PATP, and NhaA2) were most downregulated by the multiple driver manipulation, revealing linkages between responses of functional gene expression and associated physiological metrics. These findings together indicate that for more holistic projections of coccolithophore responses to future ocean global change, it is necessary to understand the relative importance of environmental drivers both individually (i.e., mechanistic understanding) and interactively (i.e., cumulative effect) on coccolithophore physiology.     

Formation of cluster roots and mycorrhizal status of Comptonia peregrina and Myrica pensylvanica in Maine, USA

Extent of cluster (proteoid) root formation in the field was examined in relation to availability of P and successional status of the site in two actinorhizal, N₂-fixing shrubs. Comptonia peregrina (L.) Coult. and Myrica pensylvanica Loisel. In C. peregrina cluster roots were present at all 13 sites and comprised between 0.2 and 19% of total fine root dry weight. Cluster root formation was most extensive at recently disturbed sites and was negatively correlated with cover of associated woody species (r =−0.85), litter depth (r =−0.81) and available (extractable) soil P (r =−0.75). In M. pensylvanica cluster roots were present at all 11 sites and comprised between 6 and 20% of total fine root dry weight. On mineral soils (n = 6), extent of cluster root formation was negatively correlated (r =−0.86) with cover of associated woody species and with litter depth (r =−0.78; P = 0.07). Comptonia peregrina and M. pensylvanica lack functional mycorrhizae at these sites because only intracellular infections were found and these lacked arbuscules. None of 22 non-N₂-fixing, dominant woody species associated with C. peregrina and M. pensylvanica formed cluster roots. Cluster roots probably allow C. peregrina and M. pensylvanica to obtain sufficient P from nutrient-poor soils in the absence of functional mycorrhizae. Extensive cluster root formation on disturbed, early successional sites may aid these species in colonizing these sites because they have to form only one symbiosis (with Frankia ) and not two (with Frankia and a mycorrhizal fungus).     

The effect of elevated CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere on plant transpiration and water use efficiency. A study with potted carnation plants

Transpiration rates of potted spray carnation plants Cerise Royalette decreased about 0.04% per vpm CO₂ between ambient atmospheric CO₂ concentration and 1500 vpm CO₂ at several light flux densities and leaf temperatures. Measurements of daily water losses of potted spray carnation plants placed under high solar radiation conditions in two minigreenhouses with 300 and 5000 vpm CO₂ demonstrated that elevated CO₂ concentrations reduced water losses by 20–30%. The effect of the increase in global CO₂ concentration on stomatal closure was calculated to have decreased the yearly transpiration rate of an outdoor crop by 1.6% in this century and is expected to cause a decrease of 10% within the next 50 years if all other factors remain unchanged. From a model of CO₂ uptake of carnation plants it was calculated that the expected water use efficiency (net photosynthesis rate/transpiration rate) will increase by about 40–50% over the next 50 years due to the expected increase in global CO₂ concentration.Contribution No. 205-E, 1979 series.Presented at the Eighth International Congress of Biometeorology 8–14 September 1979, Shefayim, Israel.