Maria Del Mar Aguilo-Ferretjans1, Rafael Bosch1,2, Richard J Puxty3, Mira Latva3,4, Vinko Zadjelovic3, Audam Chhun3, Despoina Sousoni3, Marco Polin4, David J Scanlan3, Joseph A Christie-Oleza5,6,7. 1. University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain. 2. IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), Esporles, Spain. 3. School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK. 4. Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK. 5. University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain. Joseph.Christie@uib.eu. 6. IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), Esporles, Spain. Joseph.Christie@uib.eu. 7. School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK. Joseph.Christie@uib.eu.
Abstract
How oligotrophic marine cyanobacteria position themselves in the water column is currently unknown. The current paradigm is that these organisms avoid sinking due to their reduced size and passive drift within currents. Here, we show that one in four picocyanobacteria encode a type IV pilus which allows these organisms to increase drag and remain suspended at optimal positions in the water column, as well as evade predation by grazers. The evolution of this sophisticated floatation mechanism in these purely planktonic streamlined microorganisms has important implications for our current understanding of microbial distribution in the oceans and predator-prey interactions which ultimately will need incorporating into future models of marine carbon flux dynamics.
How oligotrophic marine cyanobacteria position themselves in the water column is currently unknown. The current paradigm is that these organisms avoid sinking due to their reduced size and passive drift within currents. Here, we show that one in four picocyanobacteria encode a typn>e IV pilus which allows these organisms to increase drag and remain suspn>ended at optimal positions in the n>an class="Chemical">water column, as well as evade predation by grazers. The evolution of this sophisticated floatation mechanism in these purely planktonic streamlined microorganisms has important implications for our current understanding of microbial distribution in the oceans and predator-prey interactions which ultimately will need incorporating into future models of marine carbon flux dynamics.
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