title: Potential polyunsaturated aldehydes in the Strait of Gibraltar under two tidal regimes.
abstract: Diatoms, a major component of the large-sized phytoplankton, are able to produce and release polyunsaturated aldehydes after cell disruption (potential PUAs or pPUA). These organisms are dominant in the large phytoplankton fraction (>10 µm) in the Strait of Gibraltar, the only connection between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. In this area, the hydrodynamics exerts a strong control on the composition and physiological state of the phytoplankton. This environment offers a great opportunity to analyze and compare the little known distribution of larger sized PUA producers in nature and, moreover, to study how environmental variables could affect the ranges and potential distribution of these compounds. Our results showed that, at both tidal regimes studied (Spring and Neap tides), diatoms in the Strait of Gibraltar are able to produce three aldehydes: Heptadienal, Octadienal and Decadienal, with a significant dominance of Decadienal production. The PUA released by mechanical cell disruption of large-sized collected cells (pPUA) ranged from 0.01 to 12.3 pmol from cells in 1 L, and from 0.1 to 9.8 fmol cell⁻¹. Tidal regime affected the abundance, distribution and the level of physiological stress of diatoms in the Strait. During Spring tides, diatoms were more abundant, usually grouped nearer the coastal basin and showed less physiological stress than during Neap tides. Our results suggest a significant general increase in the pPUA productivity with increasing physiological stress for the cell also significantly associated to low nitrate availability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Cádiz, Avda. República Saharaui s/n., Puerto Real, Cádiz 11510, Spain. soledad.morillo@uca.es.
authors.forename: Soledad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morillo-García
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Cádiz, Avda. República Saharaui s/n., Puerto Real, Cádiz 11510, Spain. nerea.valcarcel@uca.es.
authors.forename: Nerea
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Valcárcel-Pérez
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Cádiz, Avda. República Saharaui s/n., Puerto Real, Cádiz 11510, Spain. andres.cozar@uca.es.
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cózar
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Cádiz, Avda. República Saharaui s/n., Puerto Real, Cádiz 11510, Spain. mariajesus.ortega@uca.es.
authors.forename: María J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.affiliation: Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Joint Research Center, European Commission, Via E. Fermi, 2147, Ispra, Varese 21021, Italy. diego.macias-moy@jrc.ec.europa.eu.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Macías
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Cádiz, Avda. República Saharaui s/n., Puerto Real, Cádiz 11510, Spain. eduardo.ramirez@uca.es.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ramírez-Romero
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Cádiz, Avda. República Saharaui s/n., Puerto Real, Cádiz 11510, Spain. carlos.garcia@uca.es.
authors.forename: Carlos M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: García
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Cádiz, Avda. República Saharaui s/n., Puerto Real, Cádiz 11510, Spain. fidel.echevarria@uca.es.
authors.forename: Fidel
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Echevarría
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Cádiz, Avda. República Saharaui s/n., Puerto Real, Cádiz 11510, Spain. ana.bartual@uca.es.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bartual
mesh_terms: D000447:Aldehydes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D018533:Biomass; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D017377:Diatoms / Q000737:chemistry*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005502:Food; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D019083:Mediterranean Region; D010839:Phytoplankton; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D012621:Seasons; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000447:Aldehydes; D002734:Chlorophyll