Research project Establishing and sustaining N2 fixing symbioses between diatoms and cyanobacteria

Diatoms are one widespread and important group of phytoplankton. Most diatoms reside in high nutrient coastal waters, while others thrive in nutrient poor waters by forming partnerships, or symbioses, with N2-fixing cyanobacteria. The cyanobacterial symbiont reduces N2 gas into bioavailable N for their hosts, while also fertilizing the surrounding community with new N. Thus, these partnerships are biogeochemically important by fueling productivity and increasing carbon export. Currently, there are large knowledge gaps for these planktonic partnerships. Our proposed research will attempt to identify how the diatom hosts support their symbiotic partners, while also determining the conditions required for establishing the associations. 

The project receives 3.2 MSEK in funding from Vetenskapsrådet (VR), awarded to Rachel Foster, Enrique Flores (CSIC Sevilla, Spain), and Mercedes Nieves Morión (CSIC Sevilla, Spain).