Modeling the metabolic evolution of mixotrophic phytoplankton in response to rising ocean surface temperatures

Abstract

Climate change is expected to lead to warming in ocean surface temperatures which will have unequal effects on the rates of photosynthesis and heterotrophy. As a result of this changing metabolic landscape, directional phenotypic evolution will occur, with implications that cascade up to the ecosystem level. While mixotrophic phytoplankton, organisms that combine photosynthesis and heterotrophy to meet their energetic and nutritional needs, are expected to become more heterotrophic with warmer temperatures due to heterotrophy increasing at a faster rate than photosynthesis, it is unclear how evolution will influence how these organisms respond to warmer temperatures. In this study, we used adaptive dynamics to model the consequences of temperature-mediated increases in metabolic rates for the evolution of mixotrophic phytoplankton, focusing specifically on phagotrophic mixotrophs.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Nov 18, 2022
Source ID
10.1186/s12862-022-02092-9

Entities

People

  • Holly V. Moeller
  • Logan M. Gonzalez
  • Stephen R. Proulx

Organizations

  • Army Research Office
  • National Science Foundation
  • Simons Foundation

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Economics
  • Exercise and Sports Science.
  • Marine Ecotoxicology