Interactive effects of light, CO2 and temperature on growth and resource partitioning by the mixotrophic dinoflagellate, Karlodinium veneficum

PLoS One. 2021 Oct 27;16(10):e0259161. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259161. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

There is little information on the impacts of climate change on resource partitioning for mixotrophic phytoplankton. Here, we investigated the hypothesis that light interacts with temperature and CO2 to affect changes in growth and cellular carbon and nitrogen content of the mixotrophic dinoflagellate, Karlodinium veneficum, with increasing cellular carbon and nitrogen content under low light conditions and increased growth under high light conditions. Using a multifactorial design, the interactive effects of light, temperature and CO2 were investigated on K. veneficum at ambient temperature and CO2 levels (25°C, 375 ppm), high temperature (30°C, 375 ppm CO2), high CO2 (30°C, 750 ppm CO2), or a combination of both high temperature and CO2 (30°C, 750 ppm CO2) at low light intensities (LL: 70 μmol photons m-2 s-2) and light-saturated conditions (HL: 140 μmol photons m-2 s-2). Results revealed significant interactions between light and temperature for all parameters. Growth rates were not significantly different among LL treatments, but increased significantly with temperature or a combination of elevated temperature and CO2 under HL compared to ambient conditions. Particulate carbon and nitrogen content increased in response to temperature or a combination of elevated temperature and CO2 under LL conditions, but significantly decreased in HL cultures exposed to elevated temperature and/or CO2 compared to ambient conditions at HL. Significant increases in C:N ratios were observed only in the combined treatment under LL, suggesting a synergistic effect of temperature and CO2 on carbon assimilation, while increases in C:N under HL were driven only by an increase in CO2. Results indicate light-driven variations in growth and nutrient acquisition strategies for K. veneficum that may benefit this species under anticipated climate change conditions (elevated light, temperature and pCO2) while also affecting trophic transfer efficiency during blooms of this species.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Biomass*
  • Carbon Dioxide / metabolism
  • Dinoflagellida / growth & development
  • Dinoflagellida / metabolism*
  • Eutrophication*
  • Hot Temperature
  • Nitrogen / metabolism
  • Sunlight

Substances

  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Nitrogen

Grants and funding

This study was supported by National Science Foundation Award # 1610609 to GO, U.S. Department of Agriculture Award # 0222622 to GO, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association Award # NA11SEC4810002, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association Award # NA16SEC4810007 to GO, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association Award # NA15NOS4780182 to MEW, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Award # R83-3221 to KJC. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.