Changes in photosynthesis and grazing facilitate growth of a mixotrophic protist under ocean acidification and...

Mixotrophic protists capable of both photosynthesis and phagotrophy are key members of marine plankton communities. Yet, little is known about their responses to the combination of ocean acidification and warming. A marine mixotrophic chrysophyte, Ochromonas CCMP2951, was subjected to two levels of pCO₂ (300 and 800 ppm, resulting in pH of 8.2 and 7.8) and temperature (21°C and 26°C) in a factorial design. Enhanced growth rates were observed in both the high CO₂ and high temperature treatments, while cell size significantly decreased with temperature. Strongly decreased cellular phosphorus content led to increased N : P and C : P ratios of Ochromonas with temperature. Furthermore, warming increased grazing rates, while elevated CO₂ reduced the Chl content but increased photosynthetic carbon acquisition, albeit only at low temperature. The combination of warming and elevated CO₂ had antagonistic effects on the balance between autotrophic and heterotrophic carbon acquisition, keeping the net role of this mixotroph in the marine carbon cycle stable. Altogether, both the direct stimulation of growth and the indirect effects of altered stoichiometry may favor mixotrophs under future ocean conditions. However, their contribution to future carbon cycling in complex natural communities will need further study.