TY - JOUR
T1 - Physiological modifications of seston in response to physicochemical gradients within Lake Superior
AU - Bellinger, Brent J.
AU - Van Mooy, Benjamin A.S.
AU - Cotner, James B.
AU - Fredricks, Helen F.
AU - Benitez-Nelson, Claudia R.
AU - Thompson, Jo
AU - Cotter, Anne
AU - Knuth, Michael L.
AU - Godwin, Casey M.
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - In September 2011, we investigated the distribution and composition of dissolved and particulate phosphorus (P) pools throughout Lake Superior, a large P-limited freshwater ecosystem. Average seston particulate P (PP) concentrations in the deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM; 85 ± 28 nmol L-1) were significantly greater than in the epilimnion (63 ± 22 nmol L-1). In contrast, average particulate organic carbon (POC): PP (mol: mol) ratios showed the opposite pattern (DCM = 303: 1 vs. epilimnion = 455: 1). Mean seston nucleic acid-P concentrations were invariant between the epilimnetic (23 ± 18 nmol L-1) and DCM (26 ± 18 nmol L-1) layers, but significantly greater concentrations of intact polar membrane-derived phospholipids were found in the DCM (6 ± 2 nmol L-1) relative to the epilimnion (4 ± 2 nmol L-1). Phospholipids were a minor proportion of PP (7-14%) and total membrane lipids (< 30%). Rather, our results suggest that microbial flora of Lake Superior substituted non-phosphorus lipids for phospholipids. In the nitrogen (N)-rich waters, N-based betaine lipids dominated (39-42%) the lipid pool, and concentrations were significantly greater in the P-poor epilimnetic seston. Sulfolipids were also abundant and significantly greater in the epilimnion (7 ± 2 nmol L-1) than in the DCM (4 ± 2 nmol L-1), despite low sulfate concentrations relative to marine environments. Our results demonstrate for the first time the importance of plankton producing non-phosphorus lipids for phospholipids as a strategy for reducing cellular P inventories in lacustrine regimes.
AB - In September 2011, we investigated the distribution and composition of dissolved and particulate phosphorus (P) pools throughout Lake Superior, a large P-limited freshwater ecosystem. Average seston particulate P (PP) concentrations in the deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM; 85 ± 28 nmol L-1) were significantly greater than in the epilimnion (63 ± 22 nmol L-1). In contrast, average particulate organic carbon (POC): PP (mol: mol) ratios showed the opposite pattern (DCM = 303: 1 vs. epilimnion = 455: 1). Mean seston nucleic acid-P concentrations were invariant between the epilimnetic (23 ± 18 nmol L-1) and DCM (26 ± 18 nmol L-1) layers, but significantly greater concentrations of intact polar membrane-derived phospholipids were found in the DCM (6 ± 2 nmol L-1) relative to the epilimnion (4 ± 2 nmol L-1). Phospholipids were a minor proportion of PP (7-14%) and total membrane lipids (< 30%). Rather, our results suggest that microbial flora of Lake Superior substituted non-phosphorus lipids for phospholipids. In the nitrogen (N)-rich waters, N-based betaine lipids dominated (39-42%) the lipid pool, and concentrations were significantly greater in the P-poor epilimnetic seston. Sulfolipids were also abundant and significantly greater in the epilimnion (7 ± 2 nmol L-1) than in the DCM (4 ± 2 nmol L-1), despite low sulfate concentrations relative to marine environments. Our results demonstrate for the first time the importance of plankton producing non-phosphorus lipids for phospholipids as a strategy for reducing cellular P inventories in lacustrine regimes.
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U2 - 10.4319/lo.2014.59.3.1011
DO - 10.4319/lo.2014.59.3.1011
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84899636775
SN - 0024-3590
VL - 59
SP - 1011
EP - 1026
JO - Limnology and Oceanography
JF - Limnology and Oceanography
IS - 3
ER -