A synthetic marine phytoplankton community consisting of the large centric diatom Coscinodiscus radiatus and four phylogenetically distinct bacterial isolates from different marine bacterial lineages. This model system was established to examine species-specific diatom-bacteria interactions and community dynamics. The bacteria include two Roseobacteraceae members (Mameliella CS4 and Roseovarius Rose1), a gammaproteobacterium (Marinobacter CS1), and a Flavobacterium (Croceibacter Crocei1). The consortium demonstrates context-dependent bacterial effects on diatom growth that vary with algal fitness state, growth phase, and community composition, with no universal algicidal or growth-promoting bacteria observed. This system is relevant to understanding carbon cycling and primary production in marine ecosystems.
Taxonomy
| Taxon | Ontology ID | Functional Roles | Abundance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coscinodiscus radiatus | NCBITaxon:33642 |
PRIMARY_PRODUCER
|
DOMINANT |
| Mameliella CS4 | NCBITaxon:862751 |
SYNTROPHIC_PARTNER
|
ABUNDANT |
| Roseovarius Rose1 | NCBITaxon:74030 |
SYNTROPHIC_PARTNER
|
ABUNDANT |
| Croceibacter Crocei1 | NCBITaxon:216431 |
SYNTROPHIC_PARTNER
|
ABUNDANT |
| Marinobacter CS1 | NCBITaxon:2742 |
SYNTROPHIC_PARTNER
|
ABUNDANT |
Ecological Interactions
Diatom Primary Production and Carbon Release
MUTUALISMSource Taxon: Coscinodiscus radiatus
Metabolites: dimethylsulfoniopropionate (CHEBI:16457), amino acids (CHEBI:33709), vitamins (CHEBI:33229)
Biological Processes:
- photosynthesis (GO:0015979)
- carbon fixation (GO:0015977)
Evidence
-
PMID:36300970 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)"No synergistic effects between bacteria in the presence of the diatom was observed"
Bacterial DMSP Metabolism
MUTUALISMSource Taxon: Mameliella CS4
Metabolites: dimethylsulfoniopropionate (CHEBI:16457), dimethyl sulfide (CHEBI:17437)
Biological Processes:
- dimethylsulfoniopropionate metabolic process (GO:0051192)
- sulfur compound metabolic process (GO:0006790)
Evidence
-
PMID:36300970 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)"We further established a synthetic phytoplankton/bacteria community with the centric diatom, Coscinodiscus radiatus, and 4 phylogenetically distinctive bacterial isolates, Mameliella sp., Roseovarius sp., Croceibacter sp., and Marinobacter sp. Supported by a Lotka-Volterra model, we show that interactions within the consortium are specific and that the sum of the pairwise interactions can explain algal and bacterial growth in the community"
Growth Phase-Dependent Bacterial Effects
MUTUALISMSource Taxon: Mameliella CS4
Biological Processes:
- interspecies interaction between organisms (GO:0044419)
- response to biotic stimulus (GO:0009607)
Evidence
-
PMID:36300970 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)"Bacteria utilize substrates produced by the phototrophic algae, while algal growth can be supported by bacterial exudates"
Bacterial Auxotrophy and Nutrient Dependence
COMMENSALISMSource Taxon: Croceibacter Crocei1
Metabolites: amino acids (CHEBI:33709), cobalamin (CHEBI:28115), niacin (CHEBI:15940)
Biological Processes:
- vitamin metabolic process (GO:0006766)
- amino acid metabolic process (GO:0006520)
Evidence
-
PMID:36300970 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)"We further established a synthetic phytoplankton/bacteria community with the centric diatom, Coscinodiscus radiatus, and 4 phylogenetically distinctive bacterial isolates, Mameliella sp., Roseovarius sp., Croceibacter sp., and Marinobacter sp. Supported by a Lotka-Volterra model, we show that interactions within the consortium are specific and that the sum of the pairwise interactions can explain algal and bacterial growth in the community"
Community-Level Emergent Effects
COMPETITIONSource Taxon: Coscinodiscus radiatus
Biological Processes:
- interspecies interaction between organisms (GO:0044419)
- microbial community structure (GO:0140352)
Evidence
-
PMID:36300970 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)"No synergistic effects between bacteria in the presence of the diatom was observed"
Environmental Factors
| Factor | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Marine medium | Artificial seawater medium | N/A |
| Light | Illuminated culture conditions | N/A |
| Growth phase | Dynamic across growth phases | N/A |
| Nutrient availability | Varied nutrient conditions | N/A |