title: Environmental science. Rethinking the marine carbon cycle: factoring in the multifarious lifestyles of microbes.
abstract: The profound influence of marine plankton on the global carbon cycle has been recognized for decades, particularly for photosynthetic microbes that form the base of ocean food chains. However, a comprehensive model of the carbon cycle is challenged by unicellular eukaryotes (protists) having evolved complex behavioral strategies and organismal interactions that extend far beyond photosynthetic lifestyles. As is also true for multicellular eukaryotes, these strategies and their associated physiological changes are difficult to deduce from genome sequences or gene repertoires—a problem compounded by numerous unknown function proteins. Here, we explore protistan trophic modes in marine food webs and broader biogeochemical influences. We also evaluate approaches that could resolve their activities, link them to biotic and abiotic factors, and integrate them into an ecosystems biology framework.
authors: Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, CA 95039, USA. Department of Ocean Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA. Integrated Microbial Biodiversity Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1Z8, Canada. azworden@mbari.org.
authors: Alexandra Z
authors: AZ
authors: Worden
authors: Department of Earth Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Follows
authors: Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
authors: Stephen J
authors: SJ
authors: Giovannoni
authors: Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, CA 95039, USA.
authors: Susanne
authors: S
authors: Wilken
authors: Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, CA 95039, USA.
authors: Amy E
authors: AE
authors: Zimmerman
authors: Integrated Microbial Biodiversity Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1Z8, Canada. Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada.
authors: Patrick J
authors: PJ
authors: Keeling
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D057486:Carbon Cycle; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000378:metabolism*; D010839:Phytoplankton / Q000378:metabolism*; D012623:Seawater / Q000382:microbiology*; D013559:Symbiosis; D015048:Zooplankton / Q000378:metabolism*