Articles | Volume 23, issue 12
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-4305-2026
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-4305-2026
Research article
 | 
30 Jun 2026
Research article |  | 30 Jun 2026

Temperature and light regulated patterns of physiology, morphology and elemental stoichiometry in geographically distinct isolates of a cosmopolitan diatom

Alyson M. Theseira, Daniel A. Nielsen, Penelope Ajani, and Katherina Petrou

Cited articles

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Ajani, P. A., Petrou, K., Larsson, M. E., Nielsen, D. A., Burke, J., and Murray, S. A.: Phenotypic trait variability as an indication of adaptive capacity in a cosmopolitan marine diatom, Environ. Microbiol., 23, 207–223l, https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.15294, 2021. 
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Baines, S. B., Twining, B. S., Brzezinski, M. A., Nelson, D. M., and Fisher, N. S.: Causes and biogeochemical implications of regional differences in silicification of marine diatoms, Global Biogeochem. Cy., 24, 1–15, https://doi.org/10.1029/2010GB003856, 2010. 
Baker, K. G., Robinson, C. M., Radford, D. T., McInnes, A. S., Evenhuis, C., and Doblin, M. A.: Thermal performance curves of functional traits aid understanding of thermally induced changes in diatom-mediated biogeochemical fluxes, Frontiers in Marine Science, 3, 1–14, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2016.00044, 2016. 
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Short summary
Diatoms are central to ocean silicon and carbon cycling. Therefore, understanding how ocean warming will affect silica production in diatoms is vital. Here we assessed how temperature and light affect diatom health and silicification in diatoms taken from different latitudes. We found higher latitude strains incorporated more silica, forming denser, thicker cell walls. Our study suggests that under future conditions, diatoms may be less effective at exporting silica and carbon to ocean depths.
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