This page has only limited features, please log in for full access.
Freshwater species are particularly sensitive to climate fluctuations, but little is known of their response to the large-scale environmental change that took place during the Quaternary. This is partly due to the scarcity of continuously preserved freshwater sedimentary records with orbital chronology. We use a 1.363 Ma high-resolution fossil record of planktonic diatoms from ancient Lake Ohrid to evaluate the role of global and regional versus local-scale environmental change in driving temporal community dynamics. By using a Bayesian joint species distribution model, we found that communities were mostly driven by the local-scale environment. Its effects decreased over time, becoming less important than global and regional environment at the onset of the penultimate glacial, 0.183 Ma. Global and regional control over the environment became important with successive deepening of the lake at around 1.0 Ma, and its influence remained persistent until the present. Our high-resolution data demonstrate the critical role of lake depth and its thermal dynamics in determining phytoplankton response to environmental change by influencing lake mixing, nutrient and light availability. With this study we demonstrate the relative impact of various environmental factors and their scale-dependant effect on the phytoplankton communities during the Quaternary, emphasizing the importance of not only considering climate fluctuations in driving their structure and temporal dynamics but also the local environment.
Aleksandra Cvetkoska; Elena Jovanovska; Torsten Hauffe; Timme H. Donders; Zlatko Levkov; Dedmer B. Van de Waal; Jane M. Reed; Alexander Francke; Hendrik Vogel; Thomas Wilke; Bernd Wagner; Friederike Wagner-Cremer. Drivers of phytoplankton community structure change with ecosystem ontogeny during the Quaternary. Quaternary Science Reviews 2021, 265, 107046 .
AMA StyleAleksandra Cvetkoska, Elena Jovanovska, Torsten Hauffe, Timme H. Donders, Zlatko Levkov, Dedmer B. Van de Waal, Jane M. Reed, Alexander Francke, Hendrik Vogel, Thomas Wilke, Bernd Wagner, Friederike Wagner-Cremer. Drivers of phytoplankton community structure change with ecosystem ontogeny during the Quaternary. Quaternary Science Reviews. 2021; 265 ():107046.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAleksandra Cvetkoska; Elena Jovanovska; Torsten Hauffe; Timme H. Donders; Zlatko Levkov; Dedmer B. Van de Waal; Jane M. Reed; Alexander Francke; Hendrik Vogel; Thomas Wilke; Bernd Wagner; Friederike Wagner-Cremer. 2021. "Drivers of phytoplankton community structure change with ecosystem ontogeny during the Quaternary." Quaternary Science Reviews 265, no. : 107046.
Human‐induced changes in biogeochemical cycles alter the availability of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in the environment, leading to changes in the elemental stoichiometry of primary producers. These changes in elemental ratios may, in turn, alter the degree of stoichiometric mismatch between primary producer hosts and their pathogens. Here, we outline how ecological stoichiometry could be used as a framework to predict the effects of changing nutrient supply on stoichiometric mismatches in autotroph–pathogen interactions. We discuss empirical evidence linking pathogen performance to stoichiometric mismatches arising from shifts in elemental availability. Our synthesis indicates that fungi may be particularly sensitive to changes in N supply and viruses generally respond strongly to changes in the supply of either of these elements, but it also highlighted the need for additional data, especially for bacteria. Consequently, fungal pathogens may respond more strongly to changes in host C:N stoichiometry, whereas viruses may be highly sensitive to both changes in C:N and C:P of hosts. Additionally, our synthesis suggests that viruses may be more homeostatic than fungi, and therefore respond more strongly to changing elemental supplies. Revealing stoichiometric mismatches may greatly support our understanding of how host–pathogen interactions in primary producers will respond to changes in global biogeochemical cycles, controlling disease incidence in primary producers under scenarios of global change.
Thijs Frenken; Rachel Paseka; Angélica L. González; Lale Asik; Eric W. Seabloom; Lauren A. White; Elizabeth T. Borer; Alex T. Strauss; Angela Peace; Dedmer B. Van de Waal. Changing elemental cycles, stoichiometric mismatches, and consequences for pathogens of primary producers. Oikos 2021, 130, 1046 -1055.
AMA StyleThijs Frenken, Rachel Paseka, Angélica L. González, Lale Asik, Eric W. Seabloom, Lauren A. White, Elizabeth T. Borer, Alex T. Strauss, Angela Peace, Dedmer B. Van de Waal. Changing elemental cycles, stoichiometric mismatches, and consequences for pathogens of primary producers. Oikos. 2021; 130 (7):1046-1055.
Chicago/Turabian StyleThijs Frenken; Rachel Paseka; Angélica L. González; Lale Asik; Eric W. Seabloom; Lauren A. White; Elizabeth T. Borer; Alex T. Strauss; Angela Peace; Dedmer B. Van de Waal. 2021. "Changing elemental cycles, stoichiometric mismatches, and consequences for pathogens of primary producers." Oikos 130, no. 7: 1046-1055.
Trait‐based approaches provide a mechanistic framework crossing scales from cellular traits to community dynamics, while ecological stoichiometry applies first principles to understand how the balance of energy and elements shape ecological interactions. However, few studies have explicitly linked both frameworks. In this study, we tested the stoichiometric regulation of a number of carbon (C) based (e.g., extracellular polysaccharides and colony formation) and nitrogen (N) containing traits (i.e., chlorophyll a, phycocyanin, and gas vesicle content) in cyanobacteria in laboratory experiments and in the field. We exposed the cosmopolitan colony forming freshwater cyanobacterium Microcystis sp. in batch experiments to light, N and phosphorus (P) limitation, and enhanced CO2 levels, and assessed the regulation of these traits. Cyanobacterial traits followed stoichiometrically predictable patterns, where N containing traits increased with cellular N content, and decreased with increasing C : N ratios. C‐based traits increased with cellular C content and C : N ratios under nutrient, particularly N, limitation. The pattern of colony formation was confirmed with field data from Lake Taihu (China), showing an increase in colony size when N was limiting and N : P ratios were low. These findings demonstrate how an explicit coupling of trait‐based approaches to ecological stoichiometry can support our mechanistic understanding of responses of cyanobacteria toward shifts in resource availability.
Zhipeng Duan; Xiao Tan; Hans W. Paerl; Dedmer B. Van de Waal. Ecological stoichiometry of functional traits in a colonial harmful cyanobacterium. Limnology and Oceanography 2021, 66, 2051 -2062.
AMA StyleZhipeng Duan, Xiao Tan, Hans W. Paerl, Dedmer B. Van de Waal. Ecological stoichiometry of functional traits in a colonial harmful cyanobacterium. Limnology and Oceanography. 2021; 66 (5):2051-2062.
Chicago/Turabian StyleZhipeng Duan; Xiao Tan; Hans W. Paerl; Dedmer B. Van de Waal. 2021. "Ecological stoichiometry of functional traits in a colonial harmful cyanobacterium." Limnology and Oceanography 66, no. 5: 2051-2062.
An overlooked effect of ecosystem eutrophication is the potential to alter disease dynamics in primary producers, inducing disease‐mediated feedbacks that alter net primary productivity and elemental recycling. Models in disease ecology rarely track organisms past death, yet death from infection can alter important ecosystem processes including elemental recycling rates and nutrient supply to living hosts. In contrast, models in ecosystem ecology rarely track disease dynamics, yet elemental nutrient pools (e.g. nitrogen, phosphorus) can regulate important disease processes including pathogen reproduction and transmission. Thus, both disease and ecosystem ecology stand to grow as fields by exploring questions that arise at their intersection. However, we currently lack a framework explicitly linking these disciplines. We developed a stoichiometric model using elemental currencies to track primary producer biomass (carbon) in vegetation and soil pools, and to track prevalence and the basic reproduction number (R0) of a directly transmitted pathogen. This model, parameterised for a deciduous forest, demonstrates that anthropogenic nutrient supply can interact with disease to qualitatively alter both ecosystem and disease dynamics. Using this element‐focused approach, we identify knowledge gaps and generate predictions about the impact of anthropogenic nutrient supply rates on infectious disease and feedbacks to ecosystem carbon and nutrient cycling.
Elizabeth T. Borer; Lale Asik; Rebecca A. Everett; Thijs Frenken; Angelica L. Gonzalez; Rachel E. Paseka; Angela Peace; Eric W. Seabloom; Alexander T. Strauss; Dedmer B. Van de Waal; Lauren A. White. Elements of disease in a changing world: modelling feedbacks between infectious disease and ecosystems. Ecology Letters 2020, 24, 6 -19.
AMA StyleElizabeth T. Borer, Lale Asik, Rebecca A. Everett, Thijs Frenken, Angelica L. Gonzalez, Rachel E. Paseka, Angela Peace, Eric W. Seabloom, Alexander T. Strauss, Dedmer B. Van de Waal, Lauren A. White. Elements of disease in a changing world: modelling feedbacks between infectious disease and ecosystems. Ecology Letters. 2020; 24 (1):6-19.
Chicago/Turabian StyleElizabeth T. Borer; Lale Asik; Rebecca A. Everett; Thijs Frenken; Angelica L. Gonzalez; Rachel E. Paseka; Angela Peace; Eric W. Seabloom; Alexander T. Strauss; Dedmer B. Van de Waal; Lauren A. White. 2020. "Elements of disease in a changing world: modelling feedbacks between infectious disease and ecosystems." Ecology Letters 24, no. 1: 6-19.
Shallow lakes can shift between stable states as a result of anthropogenic or natural drivers. Four common stable states differ in dominant groups of primary producers: submerged, floating, or emergent macrophytes or phytoplankton. Shifts in primary producer dominance affect key supporting, provisioning, regulating, and cultural ecosystem services supplied by lakes. However, links between states and services are often neglected or unknown in lake management, resulting in conflicts and additional costs. Here, we identify major shallow lake ecosystem services and their links to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), compare service provisioning among the four ecosystem states and discuss potential trade‐offs. We identified 39 ecosystem services potentially provided by shallow lakes. Submerged macrophytes facilitate most of the supporting (86%) and cultural (63%) services, emergent macrophytes facilitate most regulating services (60%), and both emergent and floating macrophytes facilitate most provisioning services (63%). Phytoplankton dominance supports fewer ecosystem services, and contributes most to provisioning services (42%). The shallow lake ecosystem services we identified could be linked to 10 different SDGs, notably zero hunger (SDG 2), clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), and climate action (SDG13). We highlighted several trade‐offs (1) among ecosystem services, (2) within ecosystem services, and (3) between ecosystem services across ecosystems. These trade‐offs can have significant ecological and economic consequences that may be prevented by early identification in water quality management. In conclusion, common stable states in shallow lakes provide a different and diverse set of ecosystem services with numerous links to the majority of SDGs. Conserving and restoring ecosystem states should account for potential trade‐offs between ecosystem services and preserving the natural value of shallow lakes.
Annette B. G. Janssen; Sabine Hilt; Sarian Kosten; Jeroen J. M. de Klein; Hans W. Paerl; Dedmer B. Van de Waal. Shifting states, shifting services: Linking regime shifts to changes in ecosystem services of shallow lakes. Freshwater Biology 2020, 66, 1 -12.
AMA StyleAnnette B. G. Janssen, Sabine Hilt, Sarian Kosten, Jeroen J. M. de Klein, Hans W. Paerl, Dedmer B. Van de Waal. Shifting states, shifting services: Linking regime shifts to changes in ecosystem services of shallow lakes. Freshwater Biology. 2020; 66 (1):1-12.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnnette B. G. Janssen; Sabine Hilt; Sarian Kosten; Jeroen J. M. de Klein; Hans W. Paerl; Dedmer B. Van de Waal. 2020. "Shifting states, shifting services: Linking regime shifts to changes in ecosystem services of shallow lakes." Freshwater Biology 66, no. 1: 1-12.
Viruses are important drivers in the cycling of carbon and nutrients in aquatic ecosystems. Since viruses are obligate parasites, their production completely depends on growth and metabolism of hosts and therefore can be affected by climate change. Here, we investigated if warming (+4°C) can change the outcome of viral infections in a natural freshwater virus community over a 5‐month period in a mesocosm experiment. We monitored dynamics of viruses and potential hosts. Results show that warming significantly advanced the early summer peak of the virus community by 24 d, but neither affected viral peak abundances nor time‐integrated number of viruses present. Our results demonstrate that warming advances the timing of viruses in a natural community. Although warming may not necessarily result in a stronger viral control of bacterial and phytoplankton communities, our results suggest it can alter host population dynamics through advanced timing of infections, and thus timing of carbon and nutrient recycling.
Thijs Frenken; Corina P. D. Brussaard; Mandy Velthuis; Ralf Aben; Garabet Kazanjian; Sabine Hilt; Sarian Kosten; Edwin T. H. M. Peeters; Lisette N. De Senerpont Domis; Susanne Stephan; Ellen Van Donk; Dedmer B. Van De Waal. Warming advances virus population dynamics in a temperate freshwater plankton community. Limnology and Oceanography Letters 2020, 5, 295 -304.
AMA StyleThijs Frenken, Corina P. D. Brussaard, Mandy Velthuis, Ralf Aben, Garabet Kazanjian, Sabine Hilt, Sarian Kosten, Edwin T. H. M. Peeters, Lisette N. De Senerpont Domis, Susanne Stephan, Ellen Van Donk, Dedmer B. Van De Waal. Warming advances virus population dynamics in a temperate freshwater plankton community. Limnology and Oceanography Letters. 2020; 5 (4):295-304.
Chicago/Turabian StyleThijs Frenken; Corina P. D. Brussaard; Mandy Velthuis; Ralf Aben; Garabet Kazanjian; Sabine Hilt; Sarian Kosten; Edwin T. H. M. Peeters; Lisette N. De Senerpont Domis; Susanne Stephan; Ellen Van Donk; Dedmer B. Van De Waal. 2020. "Warming advances virus population dynamics in a temperate freshwater plankton community." Limnology and Oceanography Letters 5, no. 4: 295-304.
Eutrophication has played a major role in the worldwide increase of harmful algal blooms (HABs). Higher input of key nutrients, such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), can stimulate the growth of harmful algal species in freshwater, estuarine, and coastal marine ecosystems. Some HAB-forming taxa, particularly several cyanobacteria and dinoflagellate species, are harmful through the production of N-rich toxins that have detrimental effects on the environment and human health. Here, we test how changes in nutrient availability affect N-rich toxin synthesis in cyanobacteria and dinoflagellates using a meta-analysis approach. Overall, N-rich toxin content showed an increase with P limitation, while it tended to decrease with N limitation, but we also observed substantial variation in responses both within and across genera and toxin groups. For instance, in response to N limitation, microcystin content varied from a 297% decrease up to a 273% increase, and paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxin content varied from a 204% decrease to an 82% increase. Cylindrospermopsin, produced by N2-fixing cyanobacteria, showed no clear direction in response to nutrient limitation, and cellular contents of this compound may thus vary independently of nutrient fluctuations. Our results confirm earlier reported stoichiometric regulation of N-rich phytoplankton toxins, showing increased toxin content with an increase in cellular N:P ratios, and vice versa. Thus, changes in N-rich toxin content largely follow the changes in relative cellular N content. Consequently, although nutrient limitation may limit bloom biomass and thereby bloom toxicity, our results warn that P limitation can cause accumulation of cellular toxins and thus lead to unexpected increases in bloom toxicity.
Karen Brandenburg; Laura Siebers; Joost Keuskamp; Thomas G. Jephcott; Dedmer B. Van De Waal. Effects of Nutrient Limitation on the Synthesis of N-Rich Phytoplankton Toxins: A Meta-Analysis. Toxins 2020, 12, 221 .
AMA StyleKaren Brandenburg, Laura Siebers, Joost Keuskamp, Thomas G. Jephcott, Dedmer B. Van De Waal. Effects of Nutrient Limitation on the Synthesis of N-Rich Phytoplankton Toxins: A Meta-Analysis. Toxins. 2020; 12 (4):221.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKaren Brandenburg; Laura Siebers; Joost Keuskamp; Thomas G. Jephcott; Dedmer B. Van De Waal. 2020. "Effects of Nutrient Limitation on the Synthesis of N-Rich Phytoplankton Toxins: A Meta-Analysis." Toxins 12, no. 4: 221.
Predicting the effects of multiple global change stressors on microbial communities remains a challenge because of the complex interactions among those factors. Here, we explore the combined effects of major global change stressors on nutrient acquisition traits in marine phytoplankton. Nutrient limitation constrains phytoplankton production in large parts of the present-day oceans, and is expected to increase owing to climate change, potentially favouring small phytoplankton that are better adapted to oligotrophic conditions. However, other stressors, such as elevated p CO 2 , rising temperatures and higher light levels, may reduce general metabolic and photosynthetic costs, allowing the reallocation of energy to the acquisition of increasingly limiting nutrients. We propose that this energy reallocation in response to major global change stressors may be more effective in large-celled phytoplankton species and, thus, could indirectly benefit large-more than small-celled phytoplankton, offsetting, at least partially, competitive disadvantages of large cells in a future ocean. Thus, considering the size-dependent responses to multiple stressors may provide a more nuanced understanding of how different microbial groups would fare in the future climate and what effects that would have on ecosystem functioning. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Conceptual challenges in microbial community ecology’.
Dedmer B. Van De Waal; Elena Litchman. Multiple global change stressor effects on phytoplankton nutrient acquisition in a future ocean. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: biological sciences 2020, 375, 20190706 .
AMA StyleDedmer B. Van De Waal, Elena Litchman. Multiple global change stressor effects on phytoplankton nutrient acquisition in a future ocean. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: biological sciences. 2020; 375 (1798):20190706.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDedmer B. Van De Waal; Elena Litchman. 2020. "Multiple global change stressor effects on phytoplankton nutrient acquisition in a future ocean." Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: biological sciences 375, no. 1798: 20190706.
Although phenotypic plasticity is a widespread phenomenon, its implications for species responses to climate change are not well understood. For example, toxic cyanobacteria can form dense surface blooms threatening water quality in many eutrophic lakes, yet a theoretical framework to predict how phenotypic plasticity affects bloom development at elevated pCO2 is still lacking. We measured phenotypic plasticity of the carbon fixation rates of the common bloom-forming cyanobacterium Microcystis. Our results revealed a 1.8- to 5-fold increase in the maximum CO2 uptake rate of Microcystis at elevated pCO2, which exceeds CO2 responses reported for other phytoplankton species. The observed plasticity was incorporated into a mathematical model to predict dynamic changes in cyanobacterial abundance. The model was successfully validated by laboratory experiments and predicts that acclimation to high pCO2 will intensify Microcystis blooms in eutrophic lakes. These results indicate that this harmful cyanobacterium is likely to benefit strongly from rising atmospheric pCO2.
Xing Ji; Jolanda M. H. Verspagen; Dedmer B. Van de Waal; Björn Rost; Jef Huisman. Phenotypic plasticity of carbon fixation stimulates cyanobacterial blooms at elevated CO2. Science Advances 2020, 6, eaax2926 .
AMA StyleXing Ji, Jolanda M. H. Verspagen, Dedmer B. Van de Waal, Björn Rost, Jef Huisman. Phenotypic plasticity of carbon fixation stimulates cyanobacterial blooms at elevated CO2. Science Advances. 2020; 6 (8):eaax2926.
Chicago/Turabian StyleXing Ji; Jolanda M. H. Verspagen; Dedmer B. Van de Waal; Björn Rost; Jef Huisman. 2020. "Phenotypic plasticity of carbon fixation stimulates cyanobacterial blooms at elevated CO2." Science Advances 6, no. 8: eaax2926.
Enrichment of the oceans with CO2 may be beneficial for some marine phytoplankton, including harmful algae. Numerous laboratory experiments provided valuable insights into the effects of elevated pCO2 on the growth and physiology of harmful algal species, including the production of phycotoxins. Experiments close to natural conditions are the next step to improve predictions, as they consider the complex interplay between biotic and abiotic factors that can confound the direct effects of ocean acidification. We therefore investigated the effect of ocean acidification on the occurrence and abundance of phycotoxins in bulk plankton samples during a long-term mesocosm experiment in the Gullmar Fjord, Sweden, an area frequently experiencing harmful algal blooms. During the experimental period, a total of seven phycotoxin-producing harmful algal genera were identified in the fjord, and in accordance, six toxin classes were detected. However, within the mesocosms, only domoic acid and the corresponding producer Pseudo-nitzschia spp. was observed. Despite high variation within treatments, significantly higher particulate domoic acid contents were measured in the mesocosms with elevated pCO2. Higher particulate domoic acid contents were additionally associated with macronutrient limitation. The risks associated with potentially higher phycotoxin levels in the future ocean warrants attention and should be considered in prospective monitoring strategies for coastal marine waters.
Sylke Wohlrab; Uwe John; Kerstin Klemm; Tim Eberlein; Anna Maria Forsberg Grivogiannis; Bernd Krock; Stephan Frickenhaus; Lennart T. Bach; Björn Rost; Ulf Riebesell; Dedmer Van de Waal. Ocean acidification increases domoic acid contents during a spring to summer succession of coastal phytoplankton. Harmful Algae 2019, 92, 101697 .
AMA StyleSylke Wohlrab, Uwe John, Kerstin Klemm, Tim Eberlein, Anna Maria Forsberg Grivogiannis, Bernd Krock, Stephan Frickenhaus, Lennart T. Bach, Björn Rost, Ulf Riebesell, Dedmer Van de Waal. Ocean acidification increases domoic acid contents during a spring to summer succession of coastal phytoplankton. Harmful Algae. 2019; 92 ():101697.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSylke Wohlrab; Uwe John; Kerstin Klemm; Tim Eberlein; Anna Maria Forsberg Grivogiannis; Bernd Krock; Stephan Frickenhaus; Lennart T. Bach; Björn Rost; Ulf Riebesell; Dedmer Van de Waal. 2019. "Ocean acidification increases domoic acid contents during a spring to summer succession of coastal phytoplankton." Harmful Algae 92, no. : 101697.
Fungal diseases threaten natural and man‐made ecosystems. Chytridiomycota (chytrids) infect a wide host range, including phytoplankton species that form the basis of aquatic food webs and produce roughly half of Earth's oxygen. However, blooms of large or toxic phytoplankton form trophic bottlenecks, as they are inedible to zooplankton. Chytrids infecting inedible phytoplankton provide a trophic link to zooplankton by producing edible zoospores of high nutritional quality. By grazing chytrid zoospores, zooplankton may induce a trophic cascade, as a decreased zoospore density will reduce new infections. Conversely, fewer infections will not produce enough zoospores to sustain long‐term zooplankton growth and reproduction. This intricate balance between zoospore density necessary for zooplankton energetic demands (growth/survival), and the loss in new infections (and thus new zoospores) because of grazing was tested empirically. To this end, we exposed a cyanobacterial host (Planktothrix rubescens) infected by a chytrid (Rizophydium megarrhizum) to a grazer density gradient (the rotifer Keratella cf. cochlearis). Rotifers survived and reproduced on a zoospore diet, but the Keratella population growth was limited by the amount of zoospores provided by chytrid infections, resulting in a situation where zooplankton survived but were restricted in their ability to control disease in the cyanobacterial host. We subsequently developed and parameterized a dynamical food‐chain model using an allometric relationship for clearance rate to assess theoretically the potential of different‐sized zooplankton groups to restrict disease in phytoplankton hosts. Our model suggests that smaller‐sized zooplankton may have a high potential to reduce chytrid infections on inedible phytoplankton. Together, our results point out the complexity of three‐way interactions between hosts, parasites, and grazers and highlight that trophic cascades are not always sustainable and may depend on the grazer's energetic demand.
Thijs Frenken; Takeshi Miki; Maiko Kagami; Dedmer Van de Waal; Ellen van Donk; Thomas Rohrlack; Alena S. Gsell. The potential of zooplankton in constraining chytrid epidemics in phytoplankton hosts. Ecology 2019, 101, e02900 .
AMA StyleThijs Frenken, Takeshi Miki, Maiko Kagami, Dedmer Van de Waal, Ellen van Donk, Thomas Rohrlack, Alena S. Gsell. The potential of zooplankton in constraining chytrid epidemics in phytoplankton hosts. Ecology. 2019; 101 (1):e02900.
Chicago/Turabian StyleThijs Frenken; Takeshi Miki; Maiko Kagami; Dedmer Van de Waal; Ellen van Donk; Thomas Rohrlack; Alena S. Gsell. 2019. "The potential of zooplankton in constraining chytrid epidemics in phytoplankton hosts." Ecology 101, no. 1: e02900.
Elevated pCO2 and warming may promote algal growth and toxin production, and thereby possibly support the proliferation and toxicity of harmful algal blooms (HABs). Here, we tested whether empirical data support this hypothesis using a meta-analytic approach and investigated the responses of growth rate and toxin content or toxicity of numerous marine and estuarine HAB species to elevated pCO2 and warming. Most of the available data on HAB responses towards the two tested climate change variables concern dinoflagellates, as many members of this phytoplankton group are known to cause HAB outbreaks. Toxin content and toxicity did not reveal a consistent response towards both tested climate change variables, while growth rate increased consistently with elevated pCO2 . Warming also led to higher growth rates, but only for species isolated at higher latitudes. The observed gradient in temperature growth responses shows the potential for enhanced development of HABs at higher latitudes. Increases in growth rates with more CO2 may present an additional competitive advantage for HAB species, particularly as CO2 was not shown to enhance growth rate of other non-HAB phytoplankton species. However, this may also be related to the difference in representation of dinoflagellate and diatom species in the respective HAB and non-HAB phytoplankton groups. Since the proliferation of HAB species may strongly depend on their growth rates, our results warn for a greater potential of dinoflagellate HAB development in future coastal waters, particularly in temperate regions.
Karen M. Brandenburg; Mandy Velthuis; Dedmer B. Van De Waal. Meta-analysis reveals enhanced growth of marine harmful algae from temperate regions with warming and elevated CO2 levels. Global Change Biology 2019, 25, 2607 -2618.
AMA StyleKaren M. Brandenburg, Mandy Velthuis, Dedmer B. Van De Waal. Meta-analysis reveals enhanced growth of marine harmful algae from temperate regions with warming and elevated CO2 levels. Global Change Biology. 2019; 25 (8):2607-2618.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKaren M. Brandenburg; Mandy Velthuis; Dedmer B. Van De Waal. 2019. "Meta-analysis reveals enhanced growth of marine harmful algae from temperate regions with warming and elevated CO2 levels." Global Change Biology 25, no. 8: 2607-2618.
Microalga Dunaliella salina is known for its carotenogenesis. At the same time, it can also produce high-quality protein. The optimal conditions for D. salina to co-produce intracellular pools of both compounds, however, are yet unknown. This study investigated a two-phase cultivation strategy to optimize combined high-quality protein and carotenoid production of D. salina. In phase-one, a gradient of nitrogen concentrations was tested. In phase-two, effects of nitrogen pulse and high illumination were tested. Results reveal optimized protein quantity, quality (expressed as essential amino acid index EAAI) and carotenoids content in a two-phase cultivation, where short nitrogen starvation in phase-one was followed by high illumination during phase-two. Adopting this strategy, productivities of protein, EAA and carotenoids reached 22, 7 and 3 mg/L/d, respectively, with an EAAI of 1.1. The quality of this biomass surpasses FAO/WHO standard for human nutrition, and the observed level of β-carotene presents high antioxidant pro-vitamin A activity.
Yixing Sui; Maarten Muys; Dedmer Van de Waal; Sarah D'adamo; Pieter Vermeir; Tania V. Fernandes; Siegfried E. Vlaeminck. Enhancement of co-production of nutritional protein and carotenoids in Dunaliella salina using a two-phase cultivation assisted by nitrogen level and light intensity. Bioresource Technology 2019, 287, 121398 .
AMA StyleYixing Sui, Maarten Muys, Dedmer Van de Waal, Sarah D'adamo, Pieter Vermeir, Tania V. Fernandes, Siegfried E. Vlaeminck. Enhancement of co-production of nutritional protein and carotenoids in Dunaliella salina using a two-phase cultivation assisted by nitrogen level and light intensity. Bioresource Technology. 2019; 287 ():121398.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYixing Sui; Maarten Muys; Dedmer Van de Waal; Sarah D'adamo; Pieter Vermeir; Tania V. Fernandes; Siegfried E. Vlaeminck. 2019. "Enhancement of co-production of nutritional protein and carotenoids in Dunaliella salina using a two-phase cultivation assisted by nitrogen level and light intensity." Bioresource Technology 287, no. : 121398.
Global change involves shifts in multiple environmental factors that act in concert to shape ecological systems in ways that depend on local biotic and abiotic conditions. Little is known about the effects of combined global change stressors on phytoplankton communities, and particularly how these are mediated by distinct community properties such as productivity, grazing pressure and size distribution. Here, we tested for the effects of warming and eutrophication on phytoplankton net growth rate and C:N:P stoichiometry in two phytoplankton cell size fractions (30 µm) in the presence and absence of grazing in microcosm experiments. Because effects may also depend on lake productivity, we used phytoplankton communities from three Dutch lakes spanning a trophic gradient. We measured the response of each community to multifactorial combinations of temperature, nutrient, and grazing treatments and found that nutrients elevated net growth rates and reduced carbon:nutrient ratios of all three phytoplankton communities. Warming effects on growth and stoichiometry depended on nutrient supply and lake productivity, with enhanced growth in the most productive community dominated by cyanobacteria, and strongest stoichiometric responses in the most oligotrophic community at ambient nutrient levels. Grazing effects were also most evident in the most oligotrophic community, with reduced net growth rates and phytoplankton C:P stoichiometry that suggests consumer‐driven nutrient recycling. Our experiments indicate that stoichiometric responses to warming and interactions with nutrient addition and grazing are not universal but depend on lake productivity and cell size distribution.
Marika A. Schulhof; Jonathan B. Shurin; Steven A. J. Declerck; Dedmer B. Van de Waal. Phytoplankton growth and stoichiometric responses to warming, nutrient addition and grazing depend on lake productivity and cell size. Global Change Biology 2019, 25, 2751 -2762.
AMA StyleMarika A. Schulhof, Jonathan B. Shurin, Steven A. J. Declerck, Dedmer B. Van de Waal. Phytoplankton growth and stoichiometric responses to warming, nutrient addition and grazing depend on lake productivity and cell size. Global Change Biology. 2019; 25 (8):2751-2762.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarika A. Schulhof; Jonathan B. Shurin; Steven A. J. Declerck; Dedmer B. Van de Waal. 2019. "Phytoplankton growth and stoichiometric responses to warming, nutrient addition and grazing depend on lake productivity and cell size." Global Change Biology 25, no. 8: 2751-2762.
Intensification of human activities has led to changes in the availabilities of CO2 and nutrients in freshwater ecosystems, which may greatly alter the physiological status of phytoplankton. Viruses require hosts for their reproduction and shifts in phytoplankton host physiology through global environmental change may thus affect viral infections as well. Various studies have investigated the impacts of single environmental factors on phytoplankton virus propagation, yet little is known about the impacts of multiple factors, particularly in freshwater systems. We therefore tested the combined effects of phosphorus limitation and elevated pCO2 on the propagation of a cyanophage infecting a freshwater cyanobacterium. To this end, we cultured Phormidium in P-limited chemostats under ambient (400 μatm) and elevated (800 μatm) pCO2 at growth rates of 0.6, 0.3, and 0.05 d-1. Host C:P ratios generally increased with strengthened P-limitation and with elevated pCO2. Upon host steady state conditions, virus growth characteristics were obtained in separate infection assays where hosts were infected by the double-stranded DNA cyanophage PP. Severe P-limitation (host growth 0.05 d-1) led to a 85% decrease in cyanophage production rate and a 73% decrease in burst size compared to the 0.6 d-1 grown P-limited cultures. Elevated pCO2 induced a 96% increase in cyanophage production rate and a 57% increase in burst size, as well as an 85% shorter latent period as compared to ambient pCO2 at the different host growth rates. In addition, elevated pCO2 caused a decrease in the plaquing efficiency and an increase in the abortion percentage for the 0.05 d-1 P-limited treatment, while the plaquing efficiency increased for the 0.6 d-1 P-limited cultures. Together, our results demonstrate interactive effects of elevated pCO2 and P-limitation on cyanophage propagation, and show that viral propagation is generally constrained by P-limitation but enhanced with elevated pCO2. Our findings indicate that global change will likely have a severe impact on virus growth characteristics and thereby on the control of cyanobacterial hosts in freshwater ecosystems.
Kai Cheng; Thijs Frenken; Corina P. D. Brussaard; Dedmer Van de Waal. Cyanophage Propagation in the Freshwater Cyanobacterium Phormidium Is Constrained by Phosphorus Limitation and Enhanced by Elevated pCO2. Frontiers in Microbiology 2019, 10, 617 .
AMA StyleKai Cheng, Thijs Frenken, Corina P. D. Brussaard, Dedmer Van de Waal. Cyanophage Propagation in the Freshwater Cyanobacterium Phormidium Is Constrained by Phosphorus Limitation and Enhanced by Elevated pCO2. Frontiers in Microbiology. 2019; 10 ():617.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKai Cheng; Thijs Frenken; Corina P. D. Brussaard; Dedmer Van de Waal. 2019. "Cyanophage Propagation in the Freshwater Cyanobacterium Phormidium Is Constrained by Phosphorus Limitation and Enhanced by Elevated pCO2." Frontiers in Microbiology 10, no. : 617.
Phytoplankton photosynthesis strongly relies on the operation of carbon‐concentrating mechanisms (CCMs) to accumulate CO2 around their carboxylating enzyme ribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO). Earlier evolved phytoplankton groups were shown to exhibit higher CCM activities to compensate for their RuBisCO with low CO2 specificities. Here, we tested whether earlier evolved phytoplankton groups also exhibit a higher CCM plasticity. To this end, we collected data from literature and applied a Bayesian linear meta‐analytic model. Our results show that with elevated pCO2, photosynthetic CO2 affinities decreased strongest and most consistent for the earlier evolved groups, i.e., cyanobacteria and dinoflagellates, while CO2‐dependent changes in affinities for haptophytes and diatoms were smaller and less consistent. In addition, responses of maximum photosynthetic rates toward elevated pCO2 were generally small and inconsistent across species. Our results demonstrate that phytoplankton groups with an earlier origin possess a high CCM plasticity, whereas more recently evolved groups do not, which likely results from evolved differences in the CO2 specificity of RuBisCO.
Dedmer B. Van De Waal; Karen M. Brandenburg; Joost Keuskamp; Scarlett Trimborn; Sebastian Rokitta; Sven A. Kranz; Björn Rost. Highest plasticity of carbon-concentrating mechanisms in earliest evolved phytoplankton. Limnology and Oceanography Letters 2019, 4, 37 -43.
AMA StyleDedmer B. Van De Waal, Karen M. Brandenburg, Joost Keuskamp, Scarlett Trimborn, Sebastian Rokitta, Sven A. Kranz, Björn Rost. Highest plasticity of carbon-concentrating mechanisms in earliest evolved phytoplankton. Limnology and Oceanography Letters. 2019; 4 (2):37-43.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDedmer B. Van De Waal; Karen M. Brandenburg; Joost Keuskamp; Scarlett Trimborn; Sebastian Rokitta; Sven A. Kranz; Björn Rost. 2019. "Highest plasticity of carbon-concentrating mechanisms in earliest evolved phytoplankton." Limnology and Oceanography Letters 4, no. 2: 37-43.
Editorial: Progress in Ecological Stoichiometry
Dedmer Van de Waal; James J. Elser; Adam C. Martiny; Robert Sterner; James Cotner. Editorial: Progress in Ecological Stoichiometry. Frontiers in Microbiology 2018, 9, 1957 .
AMA StyleDedmer Van de Waal, James J. Elser, Adam C. Martiny, Robert Sterner, James Cotner. Editorial: Progress in Ecological Stoichiometry. Frontiers in Microbiology. 2018; 9 ():1957.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDedmer Van de Waal; James J. Elser; Adam C. Martiny; Robert Sterner; James Cotner. 2018. "Editorial: Progress in Ecological Stoichiometry." Frontiers in Microbiology 9, no. : 1957.
Intraspecific trait diversity can promote the success of a species, as complementarity of functional traits within populations may enhance its competitive success and facilitates resilience to changing environmental conditions. Here, we experimentally determined the variation and relationships between traits in 15 strains of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium ostenfeldii derived from two populations. Measured traits included growth rate, cell size, elemental composition, nitrogen uptake kinetics, toxin production and allelochemical potency. Our results demonstrate substantial variation in all analysed traits both within and across populations, particularly in nitrogen affinity, which was even comparable to interspecific variation across phytoplankton species. We found distinct trade‐offs between maximum nitrogen uptake rate and affinity, and between defensive and competitive traits. Furthermore, we identified differences in trait variation between the genetically similar populations. The observed high trait variation may facilitate development and resilience of harmful algal blooms under dynamic environmental conditions.
Karen M. Brandenburg; Sylke Wohlrab; Uwe John; Anke Kremp; Jacqueline Jerney; Bernd Krock; Dedmer B. Van De Waal. Intraspecific trait variation and trade-offs within and across populations of a toxic dinoflagellate. Ecology Letters 2018, 21, 1561 -1571.
AMA StyleKaren M. Brandenburg, Sylke Wohlrab, Uwe John, Anke Kremp, Jacqueline Jerney, Bernd Krock, Dedmer B. Van De Waal. Intraspecific trait variation and trade-offs within and across populations of a toxic dinoflagellate. Ecology Letters. 2018; 21 (10):1561-1571.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKaren M. Brandenburg; Sylke Wohlrab; Uwe John; Anke Kremp; Jacqueline Jerney; Bernd Krock; Dedmer B. Van De Waal. 2018. "Intraspecific trait variation and trade-offs within and across populations of a toxic dinoflagellate." Ecology Letters 21, no. 10: 1561-1571.
During the end of spring and throughout summer, large‐sized phytoplankton taxa often proliferate and form dense blooms in freshwater ecosystems. In many cases, they are inedible to zooplankton and prevent efficient transfer of energy and elements to higher trophic levels. Such a constraint may be alleviated by fungal parasite infections on large‐sized phytoplankton taxa like diatoms and filamentous cyanobacteria, as infections may provide zooplankton with a complementary food source in the form of fungal zoospores. Zoospores have been shown to support somatic growth of large filter feeding zooplankton species. Here, we tested if selectively feeding zooplankton, more specifically rotifers, also can use fungal zoospores as a food source. Our results show that chytrid fungal parasites can indeed support population growth of rotifers (Keratella sp.). Specifically, in cultures of an inedible filamentous cyanobacterium (Planktothrix rubescens), Keratella populations rapidly declined, while in Planktothrix cultures infected with chytrids, Keratella population growth rate equaled the growth observed for populations fed with a more suitable green algal diet (Chlorella sorokiniana). Feeding of Keratella on zoospores was furthermore indicated by a reduced number of zoospores during the last sampling day. These findings not only imply that rotifers may survive on zoospores, but also that the zoospores can support high rotifer population growth rates. We thus show that fungal parasites of inedible cyanobacteria can facilitate grazers by providing them alternative food sources. Together, these results highlight the important role that parasites may play in the aquatic plankton food web.
Thijs Frenken; Joren Wierenga; Ellen van Donk; Steven Declerck; Lisette De Senerpont Domis; Thomas Rohrlack; Dedmer B. Van De Waal. Fungal parasites of a toxic inedible cyanobacterium provide food to zooplankton. Limnology and Oceanography 2018, 63, 2384 -2393.
AMA StyleThijs Frenken, Joren Wierenga, Ellen van Donk, Steven Declerck, Lisette De Senerpont Domis, Thomas Rohrlack, Dedmer B. Van De Waal. Fungal parasites of a toxic inedible cyanobacterium provide food to zooplankton. Limnology and Oceanography. 2018; 63 (6):2384-2393.
Chicago/Turabian StyleThijs Frenken; Joren Wierenga; Ellen van Donk; Steven Declerck; Lisette De Senerpont Domis; Thomas Rohrlack; Dedmer B. Van De Waal. 2018. "Fungal parasites of a toxic inedible cyanobacterium provide food to zooplankton." Limnology and Oceanography 63, no. 6: 2384-2393.
Global warming profoundly impacts the functioning of aquatic ecosystems. Nonetheless, the effect of warming on primary producers is poorly understood, especially periphyton production, which is affected both directly and indirectly by temperature-sensitive top-down and bottom-up controls. Here, we study the impact of warming on gross primary production in experimental ecosystems with near-realistic foodwebs during spring and early summer. We used indoor mesocosms following a temperate temperature regime (control) and a warmed (+4 °C) treatment to measure biomass and production of phytoplankton and periphyton. The mesocosms' primary production was dominated by periphyton (>82%) during the studied period (April-June). Until May, periphyton production and biomass were significantly higher in the warm treatment (up to 98% greater biomass compared to the control) due to direct temperature effects on growth and indirect effects resulting from higher sediment phosphorus release. Subsequently, enhanced grazer abundances seem to have counteracted the positive temperature effect causing a decline in periphyton biomass and production in June. We thus show, within our studied period, seasonally distinct effects of warming on periphyton, which can significantly affect overall ecosystem primary production and functioning.
Garabet Kazanjian; Mandy Velthuis; Ralf Aben; Susanne Stephan; Edwin T. H. M. Peeters; Thijs Frenken; Jelle Touwen; Fei Xue; Sarian Kosten; Dedmer B. Van De Waal; Lisette N. De Senerpont Domis; Ellen Van Donk; Sabine Hilt. Impacts of warming on top-down and bottom-up controls of periphyton production. Scientific Reports 2018, 8, 9901 .
AMA StyleGarabet Kazanjian, Mandy Velthuis, Ralf Aben, Susanne Stephan, Edwin T. H. M. Peeters, Thijs Frenken, Jelle Touwen, Fei Xue, Sarian Kosten, Dedmer B. Van De Waal, Lisette N. De Senerpont Domis, Ellen Van Donk, Sabine Hilt. Impacts of warming on top-down and bottom-up controls of periphyton production. Scientific Reports. 2018; 8 (1):9901.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGarabet Kazanjian; Mandy Velthuis; Ralf Aben; Susanne Stephan; Edwin T. H. M. Peeters; Thijs Frenken; Jelle Touwen; Fei Xue; Sarian Kosten; Dedmer B. Van De Waal; Lisette N. De Senerpont Domis; Ellen Van Donk; Sabine Hilt. 2018. "Impacts of warming on top-down and bottom-up controls of periphyton production." Scientific Reports 8, no. 1: 9901.