The relationship between iron and nitrogen fixation in Trichodesmium spp.

Trichodesmium spp. are considered the dominant nitrogen (N) fixing cyanobacteria in tropical and subtropical oceans, regimes frequently characterized by low iron (Fe). Limited information exists about what levels of Fe limit Trichodesmium N fixation. I developed a diagnostic for Fe limitation using quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) of the Fe stress response gene isiB, which encodes for flavodoxin a non-Fe containing substitute for ferredoxin. I determined that high isiB gene expression corresponded to cell-specific reductions in N fixation rates in both phylogenetic clades of Trichodesmium grown on varying levels of Fe. Using these laboratory-determined thresholds, I assessed Fe limitation of Trichodesmium from the Sargasso Sea, equatorial Atlantic Ocean and Western Pacific Warm Pool in conjunction with other analytical measurements (N, phosphorus (P) and dissolved Fe (<0.4[mu]m filtered)). I found widespread Fe limitation in Trichodesmium from the Pacific Ocean and minimal expression in the North Atlantic Ocean. I also found an inverse correlation between isiB expression and dissolved Fe:P ratios in seawater and data suggesting that most dissolved Fe in seawater, including organic ligand-bound Fe, is available to Trichodesmium. These data support and refine previous model predictions and demonstrate, in situ, the importance of Fe to the marine N cycle.

Department dc:contributor.department

Joint Program in Oceanography/Applied Ocean Science and Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2009

Author dc:creator

• Chappell, Phoebe Dreux

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• James W. Moffett, John B. Waterbury and Eric A. Webb.

• /Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Joint Program in Oceanography/Applied Ocean Science and Engineering.
• Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences.
• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53103

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/53103