A1 Journal article (refereed)
Phytoplankton group identification with chemotaxonomic biomarkers : In combination they do better (2023)

Peltomaa, E., Asikainen, H., Blomster, J., Pakkanen, H., Rigaud, C., Salmi, P., & Taipale, S. (2023). Phytoplankton group identification with chemotaxonomic biomarkers : In combination they do better. Phytochemistry, 209, Article 113624. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2023.113624

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Peltomaa, E.; Asikainen, H.; Blomster, J.; Pakkanen, H.; Rigaud, C.; Salmi, P.; Taipale, S.

Journal or series: Phytochemistry

ISSN: 0031-9422

eISSN: 1873-3700

Publication year: 2023

Publication date: 05/03/2023

Volume: 209

Article number: 113624

Publisher: Elsevier

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2023.113624

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/86039

Abstract

Chemotaxonomic biomarkers are needed to monitor and evaluate the nutritional quality of phytoplankton communities. The biomolecules produced by different phytoplankton species do not always follow genetic phylogeny. Therefore, we analyzed fatty acids, sterols, and carotenoids from 57 freshwater phytoplankton strains to evaluate the usability of these biomolecules as chemotaxonomic biomarkers. We found 29 fatty acids, 34 sterols, and 26 carotenoids in our samples. The strains were grouped into cryptomonads, cyanobacteria, diatoms, dinoflagellates, golden algae, green algae, and raphidophytes, and the phytoplankton group explained 61%, 54%, and 89% of the variability of fatty acids, sterols, and carotenoids, respectively. Fatty acid and carotenoid profiles distinguished most phytoplankton groups, but not flawlessly. For example, fatty acids could not distinguish golden algae and cryptomonads, whereas carotenoids did not separate diatoms and golden algae. The sterol composition was heterogeneous but seemed to be useful for distinguishing different genera within a phytoplankton group. The chemotaxonomy biomarkers yielded optimal genetic phylogeny when the fatty acids, sterols, and carotenoids were used together in multivariate statistical analysis. Our results suggest that the accuracy of phytoplankton composition modeling could be enhanced by combining these three biomolecule groups.

Keywords: plankton; microalgae; cyanobacteria; biotic communities; systematics; monitoring; biomarkers; fatty acids; sterols; carotenoids

Free keywords: chemotaxonomy; eukaryotic algae; cyanobacteria; fatty acid; sterol; carotenoid

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Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2023

JUFO rating: 1