Symbiotic diazotrophic UCYN-A strains co-occurred with El Niño, relaxed upwelling, and varied eukaryotes over 10 years off Southern California Bight

Abstract

AbstractBiological nitrogen fixation, the conversion of N2 gas into a more bioavailable form, is vital to sustaining marine primary production. Studies have shifted beyond traditionally studied tropical diazotrophs.CandidatusAtelocyanobacterium thalassa (or UCYN-A) has emerged as a research focal point due to its streamlined metabolism, intimate partnership with a haptophyte host, and broad distribution. Here, we explore the abiotic factors that govern UCYN-A’s presence at the San Pedro Ocean Time-series (SPOT), its partner fidelity, and statistical interactions with non-symbiotic eukaryotes. 16S and 18S rRNA sequences were amplified by “universal primers” from monthly samples and resolved into Amplicon Sequence Variants, allowing us to observe multiple UCYN-A symbioses. UCYN-A1 relative abundances increased following the 2015-2016 El Niño event. When this “open ocean ecotype” was present, coastal upwelling ceased, and Ekman transport brought tropical waters into the region. Network analyses reveal all strains of UCYN-A co-occur with dinoflagellates includingLepidodinium, a potential predator, and parasiticSyndiniales. UCYN-A2 appeared to pair with multiple hosts and was not tightly coupled to its predominate host, while UCYN-A1 maintained a strong host-symbiont relationship. These biological relationships are particularly important to study in the context of climate change, which will alter UCYN-A distribution patterns both locally and globally.