Active accumulation of internal DIC pools reduces transport limitation in large colonies of Nostoc pruniforme

TY - JOUR

T1 - Active accumulation of internal DIC pools reduces transport limitation in large colonies of Nostoc pruniforme

AU - Raun, Ane-Marie Løvendahl

AU - Borum, Jens

AU - Jensen, Kaj Sand

N1 - KEY WORDS: Nostoc pruniforme · Inorganic carbon acquisition · DIC accumulation · Bicarbonate use · Colony size · Photosynthesis

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - Nostoc pruniforme is a freshwater cyanobacterium forming large spherical colonies of up to several centimeters in diameter. The size and shape result in low surface area to volume (SA/V) ratios that potentially put severe constraints on resource acquisition. In the present study we have specifically examined how N. pruniforme copes with the acquisition of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) for photosynthesis. The results showed that N. pruniforme elevates its functional SA/V considerably by locating the cyanobacterial trichomes primarily in the outer shell, while the inner mucus of polysaccharides contains declining densities of trichomes with increasing colony size. N. pruniforme is a very efficient bicarbonate (HCO3-) user and, in addition, actively accumulates large pools of DIC that can support net photosynthesis for >22 h without a supply of external DIC. Both the efficient HCO3- utilization and the large internal DIC pools greatly reduce N. pruniforme dependence on the immediate availability and species of external DIC. The location of the trichomes in the shell, the HCO3- utilization and the internal DIC pools mean that colony size only has a minor effect on photosynthetic rates as a function of external DIC availability.

AB - Nostoc pruniforme is a freshwater cyanobacterium forming large spherical colonies of up to several centimeters in diameter. The size and shape result in low surface area to volume (SA/V) ratios that potentially put severe constraints on resource acquisition. In the present study we have specifically examined how N. pruniforme copes with the acquisition of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) for photosynthesis. The results showed that N. pruniforme elevates its functional SA/V considerably by locating the cyanobacterial trichomes primarily in the outer shell, while the inner mucus of polysaccharides contains declining densities of trichomes with increasing colony size. N. pruniforme is a very efficient bicarbonate (HCO3-) user and, in addition, actively accumulates large pools of DIC that can support net photosynthesis for >22 h without a supply of external DIC. Both the efficient HCO3- utilization and the large internal DIC pools greatly reduce N. pruniforme dependence on the immediate availability and species of external DIC. The location of the trichomes in the shell, the HCO3- utilization and the internal DIC pools mean that colony size only has a minor effect on photosynthetic rates as a function of external DIC availability.

U2 - 10.3354/ab00120

DO - 10.3354/ab00120

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1864-7790

VL - 5

SP - 23

EP - 29

JO - Aquatic Biology

JF - Aquatic Biology

IS - 1

ER -