title: Accumulation and enhanced cycling of polyphosphate by Sargasso Sea plankton in response to low phosphorus.
abstract: Phytoplankton alter their biochemical composition according to nutrient availability, such that their bulk elemental composition varies across oceanic provinces. However, the links between plankton biochemical composition and variation in biogeochemical cycling of nutrients remain largely unknown. In a survey of phytoplankton phosphorus stress in the western North Atlantic, we found that phytoplankton in the phosphorus-depleted subtropical Sargasso Sea were enriched in the biochemical polyphosphate (polyP) compared with nutrient-rich temperate waters, contradicting the canonical oceanographic view of polyP as a luxury phosphorus storage molecule. The enrichment in polyP coincided with enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity and substitution of sulfolipids for phospholipids, which are both indicators of phosphorus stress. Further, polyP appeared to be liberated preferentially over bulk phosphorus from sinking particles in the Sargasso Sea, thereby retaining phosphorus in shallow waters. Thus, polyP cycling may form a feedback loop that attenuates the export of phosphorus when it becomes scarce, contributes bioavailable P for primary production, and supports the export of carbon and nitrogen via sinking particles.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry and.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Biology, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543; and.
authors.forename: Sonya T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Dyhrman
authors.affiliation: Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME 04544.
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Lomas
authors.affiliation: Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME 04544.
authors.forename: Nicole J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Poulton
authors.affiliation: Departments of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry and bvanmooy@whoi.edu.
authors.forename: Benjamin A S
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Van Mooy
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism; D057486:Carbon Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D008055:Lipids; D008386:Marine Biology / Q000379:methods; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D058458:Nitrogen Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000378:metabolism*; D010933:Plankton / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D011122:Polyphosphates / Q000378:metabolism*; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D046940:Synechococcus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D011122:Polyphosphates; C015518:sulfolipids; D010758:Phosphorus; D002244:Carbon; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D009584:Nitrogen
keywords: lipids; marine phytoplankton; nutrient limitation; phosphorus cycling
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