Prochlorococcus and Climate Change
By Zachary Aronson-Paxton
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What are Prochlorococcus?
Prochlorococcus is a gram negative, coccus bacteria species in the genus cyanobacteria. Prochlorococcus is an aquatic autotroph, found throughout the planet's oceans (Biller et al. 2015). Earth’s oxygen-rich atmosphere is the result of Cyanobacteria and their mass amounts of photosynthesis. Specifically, Prochlorococcus is one of the most abundant autotrophic bacteria in the planet’s oceans (Biller et al. 2015). Prochlorococcus can number up to 70,000 cells in a milliliter of ocean water (Campbell et al. 1998). These vast quantities produce a significant percentage of Earth’s entire photosynthetic output and up to 79 percent of the North Atlantic Ocean’s entire primary production (Biller et al. 2015) (Li 1994). As a result of their large photosynthetic potential, they are a key organism in the fight against climate change and the sequestration of atmospheric carbon. Prochlorococcus uptake more carbon dioxide to undergo photosynthesis than they use up in respiration, creating a stock of carbon inside each organism (Li 1994). When Prochlorococcus dies, it sinks to the bottom of the ocean and is buried, eventually forming oil in what is known as the ocean biological pump (Resplandy et al. 2019). In this way, Prochlorococcus serve as a sink for atmospheric carbon and have an impact on climate change.
The Effect of Climate Change on Prochlorococcus
How does climate change influence the number and efficacy of Prochlorococcus microbes throughout the planet's oceans?
Anthropogenic change is affecting the planet in many ways, most of them unanticipated by scientists. With the projection of continued global change, modeling the future changes set to affect various ecosystems is essential. Since Prochlorococcus is one of the most abundant sinks of atmospheric carbon dioxide, modeling the effects of planetary changes can potentially predict greater, unanticipated changes caused by Prochlorococcus. A decrease in Prochlorococcus and other autotrophic microbes could result in a larger than expected build up of greenhouse gasses as a result of these photosynthetic organisms’ carbon sequestration potential. Greenhouse gas build up, the main cause of global warming, is an essential factor in ecological dynamics across the planet. While Prochlorococcus has evolved for photosynthesis in environments with various different light availability and depths, the rate of anthropogenic change far outpaces Prochlorococcus’ evolution. Various human changes are projected to both increase and decrease the productivity of Prochlorococcus in the Atlantic Ocean.
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Prochlororcoccus’ Impact on the Oceans
How does Prochlorococcus’ large scale photosynthetic processes affect ocean ecosystems?
Include some current research, with at least one figure showing data.
Prochlororcoccus’ Effect on the Changing Planet
Does Prochlorococcus have a direct impact on the planet’s atmosphere and the process of climate change?
Include some current research, with at least one figure showing data.
Conclusion
References
Authored for BIOL 238 Microbiology, taught by Joan Slonczewski, 2023, Kenyon College
