Many different species of oceanic diatoms have been described bearing N2-fixing symbiotic cyanobacteria, I was wondering if similar associations had ever been found in freshwater systems ?
Thanks
Dear Karine,
Freshwater diatoms of the genera Rhopalodia and Epithemia (Family Epithemiaceae) are well known to possess nitrogen‐fixing cyanobacterial endosymbionts.
See e.g.:
Article Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus on the endosymbiont load ...
with interesting observations on the relationship between the endosymbiont number (and total endosymbiont volume) per diatom and ambient nitrogen, and the role of phosphorus limitation in uncoupling the relationship between endosymbiont load and nitrogen.
Best regards.
Marco
Great thank you. Seems like the only known DDA for freshwater though...
Anyway good to know these can occur in all aquatic systems.
Karine
- Badges
- Science method
- Similar topics
- Biological Science
- Ecology