Light intensity modulation by coccoliths of Emiliania huxleyi as a micro-photo-regulator.

Yuri Mizukawa,Manami Satoh,Yuito Miyashita,Yoshihiro Shiraiwa,Masakazu Iwasaka

doi:10.1038/srep13577

Yuri Mizukawa, Manami Satoh + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1038/srep13577

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Abstract

In this study, we present experimental evidence showing that coccoliths have light-scattering anisotropy that contributes to a possible control of solar light exposure in the ocean. Changing the angle between the incident light and an applied magnetic field causes differences in the light-scattering intensities of a suspension of coccoliths isolated from Emiliania huxleyi. The magnetic field effect is induced by the diamagnetic torque force directing the coccolith radial plane perpendicular to the applied magnetic fields at 400 to 500 mT. The developed technique reveals the light-scattering anisotropies in the 3-μm-diameter floating coccoliths by orienting themselves in response to the magnetic fields. The detached coccolith scatters radially the light incident to its radial plane. The experimental results on magnetically oriented coccoliths show that an individual coccolith has a specific direction of light scattering, although the possible physiological effect of the coccolith remains for further study, focusing on the light-scattering anisotropies of coccoliths on living cells.

Highlights

In this study, we present experimental evidence showing that coccoliths have light-scattering anisotropy that contributes to a possible control of solar light exposure in the ocean
Some species of coccolithophore phytoplankton have played a significant role in carbon fixation, which resulted in the accumulation of fossil fuels and the generation of the gas atmosphere that supports all living organisms[5,6,7,8,9,10,11]
We evaluated the angle of the applied magnetic fields with the radial direction, and we determined how the change in orientation depended on the magnetic fields (Fig. 2b)

Summary

Introduction

We present experimental evidence showing that coccoliths have light-scattering anisotropy that contributes to a possible control of solar light exposure in the ocean. The experimental results on magnetically oriented coccoliths show that an individual coccolith has a specific direction of light scattering, the possible physiological effect of the coccolith remains for further study, focusing on the light-scattering anisotropies of coccoliths on living cells. The calcite crystals of Emiliania huxleyi form a complicated structure that combines components with different crystallographic orientations; this formation is known as the V/R nucleation model[19]. Many other aquatic organisms possess biomineralization mechanisms for producing biogenic crystals, including calcite and aragonite, in cell coverings, shells, and body parts. Coccolithophore blooms appear as a color difference in ocean satellite images, and the light www.nature.com/scientificreports/

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