A1 Journal article (refereed)
Temperature, phosphorus and species composition will all influence phytoplankton production and content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (2023)

Calderini, M. L., Pääkkönen, S., Salmi, P., Peltomaa, E., & Taipale, S. J. (2023). Temperature, phosphorus and species composition will all influence phytoplankton production and content of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Journal of Plankton Research, 45(4), 625-635. https://doi.org/10.1093/plankt/fbad026

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Calderini, Marco L.; Pääkkönen, Salli; Salmi, Pauliina; Peltomaa, Elina; Taipale, Sami J.

Journal or series: Journal of Plankton Research

ISSN: 0142-7873

eISSN: 1464-3774

Publication year: 2023

Publication date: 24/06/2023

Volume: 45

Issue number: 4

Pages range: 625-635

Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/plankt/fbad026

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/88243

Abstract

Temperature increases driven by climate change are expected to decrease the availability of polyunsaturated fatty acids in lakes worldwide. Nevertheless, a comprehensive understanding of the joint effects of lake trophic status, nutrient dynamics and warming on the availability of these biomolecules is lacking. Here, we conducted a laboratory experiment to study how warming (18–23°C) interacts with phosphorus (0.65–2.58 μM) to affect phytoplankton growth and their production of polyunsaturated fatty acids. We included 10 species belonging to the groups diatoms, golden algae, cyanobacteria, green algae, cryptophytes and dinoflagellates. Our results show that both temperature and phosphorus will boost phytoplankton growth, especially stimulating certain cyanobacteria species (Microcystis sp.). Temperature and phosphorus had opposing effects on polyunsaturated fatty acid proportion, but responses are largely dependent on species. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) synthesizing species did not clearly support the idea that warming decreases the production or content of these essential polyunsaturated fatty acids. Our results suggest that warming may have different effects on the polyunsaturated fatty acid availability in lakes with different nutrient levels, and that different species within the same phytoplankton group can have contrasting responses to warming. Therefore, we conclude that future production of EPA and DHA is mainly determined by species composition.

Keywords: plankton; fatty acids; lakes; phosphorus; climate changes; temperature

Free keywords: phytoplankton; polyunsaturated fatty acids; lake; climate change; temperature; phosphorus

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Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2023

JUFO rating: 1