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Exploring salinity induced adaptations in marine diatoms using advanced photonic techniques.
Julijana Cvjetinovic1, Yekaterina D Bedoshvili2,3, Nickolai A Davidovich2,4
1Center for Photonic Science and Engineering, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, 30 Bolshoy Boulevard, bld. 1, Moscow, 121205, Russia. julijana.cvjetinovic@skoltech.ru.
Scientific Reports
|December 31, 2024
Summary
Marine diatoms like Nitzschia sp. adapt to salinity changes, altering chlorophyll fluorescence and cell structures. These findings reveal microalgae
Area of Science:
- Marine biology
- Microalgal physiology
- Photonic applications in life sciences
Background:
- Photonic methods offer non-invasive biological analysis.
- Diatom responses to environmental stressors are crucial for marine ecosystems.
- Advanced photonic techniques for diatom study are underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of varying salinity on marine diatom Nitzschia sp. using advanced photonic tools.
- To elucidate the adaptive mechanisms of diatoms under osmotic stress.
Main Methods:
- Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM).
- Combined Photoacoustic and Fluorescence Tomographies (PAFT).
- Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) for ultrastructural analysis.
Main Results:
- Mean fluorescence lifetime increased from 570 ps (20‰) to 940 ps (80‰) salinity, indicating chlorophyll adaptation.
- Salinity stress (60‰) induced anomalies in silica valve and polysaccharide layer development.
- Lipid droplet size minimized at 40‰ salinity, showing metabolic adjustments; fluorescence and photoacoustic signals intensified with salinity.
Conclusions:
- Salinity significantly impacts diatom physiology, ultrastructure, and optical properties.
- Findings provide insights into diatom ecological roles and adaptive strategies.
- Potential for microalgae in environmental monitoring and biotechnology applications.
