Iron availability, cellular iron quotas, and nitrogen fixation in Trichodesmium

Abstract

Iron availability is suggested to be a primary factor limiting nitrogen fixation in the oceans. This hypothesis is principally based on costߚbenefit analyses of iron quotas in the dominant nitrogenߚfixing cyanobacteria, Trichodesmium spp., in the contemporary oceans. Although previous studies with Trichodesmium have indicated that iron availability enhanced nitrogen fixation and photosynthesis, no clear relationship has been reported between cellular iron quotas and nitrogen fixation. We reߚexamined the proposed link between iron availability and nitrogen fixation in laboratory isolates and natural populations collected from coastal waters north of Australia. In laboratory cultures grown under ironߚlimiting conditions, we measured a decline in cellular iron quotas, photochemical quantum yields, the relative abundance of photosystem I to photosystem II reaction centers, and rates of nitrogen fixation. Nitrogen fixation displayed a critical threshold of the dissolved sum of total inorganic Fe species ([Fe′]) of ca. log[Fe′] = –9.7. Field populations of Trichodesmium, collected during bloom conditions, showed high iron quotas consistent with high nitrogen fixation rates. Using seasonal maps of aeolian iron fluxes and modelߚderived maps of surface water total dissolved Fe, we calculated the potential of nitrogen fixation by Trichodesmium in the global ocean. Our results suggest that in 75% of the global ocean, iron availability limits nitrogen fixation by this organism. Given present trends in the hydrological cycle, we suggest that iron fluxes will be even more limiting in the coming century.