Metabolically active, non-nitrogen fixing,Trichodesmiumin UK coastal waters during winter.
Trichodesmium, a colonial cyanobacterium typically associated with tropical waters, was observed between January and April 2014 in the western English Channel. Sequencing of the heterocyst differentiation (hetR) and 16S rRNA genes placed this community within the Clade IVTrichodesmium, an understudied clade previously found only in low numbers in warmer waters.Nitrogen fixation was not detected although measurable rates of nitrate uptake and carbon fixation were observed.TrichodesmiumRuBisCO transcript abundance relative to gene abundance suggests the potential for viable and potentially activeTrichodesmiumcarbon fixation. Observations ofTrichodesmiumwhen coupled with a numerical advection model indicate thatTrichodesmiumcommunities can remain viable for >3.5 months at temperatures lower than previously expected. The results suggest that Clade IVTrichodesmiumoccupies a different niche to otherTrichodesmiumspecies, and is a cold- or low-light-adapted variant.
Plymouth Marine Laboratory , Prospect Place, The Hoe PL1 3DH , UK.
Andrew P
AP
Rees
Plymouth Marine Laboratory , Prospect Place, The Hoe PL1 3DH , UK.
Karen
K
Tait
Plymouth Marine Laboratory , Prospect Place, The Hoe PL1 3DH , UK.
Claire E
CE
Widdicombe
Plymouth Marine Laboratory , Prospect Place, The Hoe PL1 3DH , UK.
Graham D
GD
Quartly
Plymouth Marine Laboratory , Prospect Place, The Hoe PL1 3DH , UK.
Andrea J
AJ
McEvoy
Plymouth Marine Laboratory , Prospect Place, The Hoe PL1 3DH , UK.
Lisa
L
Al-Moosawi
13C; 15N; English Channel; PCR; Trichodesmium; Western Channel Observatory; Winter