A Review on the Macromolecular Compositions of Phytoplankton and the Implications for Aquatic Biogeochemistry

Bhavya, P. S.; Kim, Bo Kyung; Jo, Naeun; Kim, Kwanwoo; Kang, Jung Eun; Lee, Jae Hyung; Lee, Dabin; Lee, Jang Han; Joo, HuiTae; Ahn, So Hyun; Kim, Yewon; Min, Jun‐Oh; Kang, Min Gu; Yun, Mi Sun; Kang, Chang Keun; Lee, Sang‐Heon

doi:10.1007/s12601-018-0061-8

Cited by 29 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 101 publications

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“…Each biochemical compound (CHO, PRT, and LIP) was analyzed at the laboratory based on the methods of Lowry et al (1951) ; Dubois et al (1956) , and Bligh and Dyer (1959) , respectively. The detailed methods used for analyzing each biochemical compound are described in Bhavya et al (2019) . FM represented the sum of the three biochemical components (CHO, PRT, and LIP), and calorific contents were calculated following Winberg (1971) .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characteristics of Different Size Phytoplankton for Primary Production and Biochemical Compositions in the Western East/Japan Sea

et al. 2020

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The current phytoplankton community structure is expected to change, with small phytoplankton becoming dominant under ongoing warming conditions. To understand and evaluate the ecological roles of small phytoplankton in terms of food quantity and quality, the carbon uptake rates and intracellular biochemical compositions (i.e., carbohydrates, CHO; proteins, PRT; and lipids, LIP) of phytoplankton of different sizes were analyzed and compared in two different regions of the western East/Japan Sea (EJS): the Ulleung Basin (UB) and northwestern East/Japan Sea (NES). The average carbon uptake rate by the whole phytoplankton community in the UB (79.0 ± 12.2 mg C m–2 h–1) was approximately two times higher than that in the NES (40.7 ± 2.2 mg C m–2 h–1), although the average chlorophyll a (chl a) concentration was similar between the UB (31.0 ± 8.4 mg chl a m–2) and NES (28.4 ± 7.9 mg chl a m–2). The main reasons for the large difference in the carbon uptake rates are believed to be water temperature, which affects metabolic activity and growth rate, and the difference in euphotic depths. The contributions of small phytoplankton to the total carbon uptake rate were not significantly different between the regions studied. However, the rate of decrease in the total carbon uptake with increasing contributions from small phytoplankton was substantially higher in the UB than in the NES. This result suggests that compared to other regions in the EJS, the primary production in the UB could decrease rapidly under ongoing climate change. The calorific contents calculated based on biochemical compositions were similar between the small (1.01 ± 0.33 Kcal m–3) and large (1.14 ± 0.36 Kcal m–3) phytoplankton in the UB, whereas the biochemical contents were higher in the large phytoplankton (1.88 ± 0.54 Kcal m–3) than in the small phytoplankton (1.06 ± 0.18 Kcal m–3) in the NES. The calorific values per unit of chl a were higher for the large phytoplankton than for the small phytoplankton in both regions, which suggests that large phytoplankton could provide a more energy efficient food source to organisms in higher trophic levels in the western EJS.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characteristics of Different Size Phytoplankton for Primary Production and Biochemical Compositions in the Western East/Japan Sea

et al. 2020

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“…POM largely derived from phytoplankton plays a significant role in linking the primary producers to herbivores as a crucial food source ( Dzierzbicka-Głowacka et al, 2010 ; Lowe et al, 2014 ; Andersson et al, 2017 ) and potential carbon export to the deep ocean ( Ducklow et al, 2001 ; Basu and Mackey, 2018 ). Biochemical properties of POM, especially biomolecular and amino acid (AA) compositions, are useful indicators of nutritional quality for higher trophic consumers ( Dell’Anno et al, 2000 ; Lee et al, 2004 ; Bhavya et al, 2019 ). The various biomolecular components, including carbohydrates (CHO), proteins (PRT), and lipids (LIP), are generated through photosynthetic assimilation of dissolved inorganic carbon into organic compounds within phytoplankton ( Fernández-Reiriz et al, 1989 ; Fichez, 1991 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Different Biochemical Compositions of Particulate Organic Matter Driven by Major Phytoplankton Communities in the Northwestern Ross Sea

Kim

et al. 2021

Front. Microbiol.

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Marine particulate organic matter (POM) largely derived from phytoplankton is a primary food source for upper trophic consumers. Their biochemical compositions are important for heterotrophs. Especially, essential amino acids (EAAs) in phytoplankton are well known to have impacts on the survival and egg productions of herbivorous zooplankton. To estimate the nutritional quality of POM, the biochemical compositions [biomolecular and amino acid (AA) compositions] of POM were investigated in the northwestern Ross Sea during the late austral summer in 2018. Carbohydrates (CHO) accounted for the highest portion among different biomolecules [CHO, proteins (PRT), and lipids (LIP)] of POM. However, the higher contribution of PRT and lower contribution of CHO were observed in the southern section of our study area compared to those in the northern section. The spatial distribution of total hydrolyzable AAs in POM was considerably influenced by phytoplankton biomass, which indicates that the main source of particulate AA was generated by phytoplankton. Our results showed that the relative contribution of EAA to the total AAs was strongly associated with EAA index (EAAI) for determining protein quality. This result indicates that higher EAA contribution in POM suggests a better protein quality in consistency with high EAAI values. In this study, variations in the biochemical compositions in POM were principally determined by two different bloom-forming taxa (diatoms and Phaeocystis antarctica). The southern region dominated majorly by diatoms was positively correlated with PRT, EAA, and EAAI indicating a good protein quality, while P. antarctica-abundant northern region with higher CHO contribution was negatively correlated with good protein quality factors. Climate-driven environmental changes could alter not only the phytoplankton community but also the physiological conditions of phytoplankton. Our findings could provide a better understanding for future climate-induced changes in the biochemical compositions of phytoplankton and consequently their potential impacts on higher trophic levels.

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“…In situ phytoplankton macromolecule concentrations from various global oceans are compiled by Bhavya et al (). Of the 25 data sets they have collected and tabulated, we select 10 that cover the timespan of at least 6 months continuously.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Of the three main macromolecules that compromise organic matter, carbohydrate has the highest RQ, followed by lipid and protein (Anderson, ). Since 1970s there has been significant improvements in the sampling and analysis techniques for accurately determining biochemical compositions of organic matter (Bhavya et al, ). In addition, a novel algorithm using satellite ocean color was recently developed to estimate the annual mean macromolecule compositions of phytoplankton (protein, carbohydrate, lipid, and chlorophyll) on the global scale (Roy, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stability of Marine Organic Matter Respiration Stoichiometry

Tanioka

Matsumoto

2020

Geophysical Research Letters

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The amount of oxygen consumed during organic matter remineralization critically depends on how much organic carbon is remineralized per unit dissolved oxygen respired (respiratory quotient, RQ) but the global distribution and the mechanisms that control RQ are not well understood. Here we estimate RQ in the surface ocean by using two independent methods, one using satellite‐derived macromolecular composition of phytoplankton and another using objectively gridded nutrient data. Both methods yield mean RQ of ~0.7 with small spatial variability consistent with previous estimates. This pattern is likely to be a result of phytoplankton protein content universally exceeding those of carbohydrates and lipids. At face value, the relative stability of RQ suggests that the remineralization stoichiometry will not affect the ongoing deoxygenation of the world ocean. However, the possibility remains that RQ may increase in the future (e.g., organic matter becoming more carbohydrate‐dominated) and thus ameliorate deoxygenation.

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A Review on the Macromolecular Compositions of Phytoplankton and the Implications for Aquatic Biogeochemistry

Cited by 29 publications

References 101 publications

Characteristics of Different Size Phytoplankton for Primary Production and Biochemical Compositions in the Western East/Japan Sea

Characteristics of Different Size Phytoplankton for Primary Production and Biochemical Compositions in the Western East/Japan Sea

Different Biochemical Compositions of Particulate Organic Matter Driven by Major Phytoplankton Communities in the Northwestern Ross Sea

Stability of Marine Organic Matter Respiration Stoichiometry

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