Physiological responses of Humboldt current system diatoms to Fe and Cu co-limitation

Diatoms account for ∼20% of global primary production, often limited by the availability of Fe and other trace nutrients such as Cu. The present study examined the role of both metals in the physiology of two diatoms isolated from the Humboldt Currents System, the centric Chaetoceros c.f. dicipiens and the pennate Nitzschia c.f. draveillensis. Under Fe limitation, a decrease in specific growth rates and sizes of both species was observed, especially in Chaetoceros. However, regarding different photosynthetic parameters, Nitzschia was more impacted. The increase in Cu concentrations improved the physiology of both diatoms, mostly of Chaetoceros. When grown in mixed cultures and under co-limiting conditions, both species remained competive due to morphological advantages (i.e., lower cell size). These results may suggest that the increase of Cu under Fe limitation benefited C. c.f. dicipiens over N. c.f. draveillensis.