scholarly journals Microbial rhodopsins are major contributors to the solar energy captured in the sea

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (8) ◽  
pp. eaaw8855 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Gómez-Consarnau ◽  
John A. Raven ◽  
Naomi M. Levine ◽  
Lynda S. Cutter ◽  
Deli Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Energy ◽  
Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Geographical Distribution ◽  
Proton Pumping ◽  
Basal Metabolism ◽  
Energy Capture ◽  
Surface Ocean ◽  
Vertical Distributions ◽  
Energy Converting

All known phototrophic metabolisms on Earth rely on one of three categories of energy-converting pigments: chlorophyll-a (rarely -d), bacteriochlorophyll-a (rarely -b), and retinal, which is the chromophore in rhodopsins. While the significance of chlorophylls in solar energy capture has been studied for decades, the contribution of retinal-based phototrophy to this process remains largely unexplored. We report the first vertical distributions of the three energy-converting pigments measured along a contrasting nutrient gradient through the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The highest rhodopsin concentrations were observed above the deep chlorophyll-a maxima, and their geographical distribution tended to be inversely related to that of chlorophyll-a. We further show that proton-pumping proteorhodopsins potentially absorb as much light energy as chlorophyll-a–based phototrophy and that this energy is sufficient to sustain bacterial basal metabolism. This suggests that proteorhodopsins are a major energy-transducing mechanism to harvest solar energy in the surface ocean.

scholarly journals Marine proteorhodopsins rival photosynthesis in solar energy capture

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Gómez-Consarnau ◽  
Naomi M. Levine ◽  
Lynda S. Cutter ◽  
Deli Wang ◽  
Brian Seegers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Energy ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Carbon Cycling ◽  
Light Energy ◽  
Energy Capture ◽  
Energy Flows ◽  
Eastern Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Vertical Distributions ◽  
Energy Converting

All known phototrophic metabolisms on Earth are based on one of three energy-converting pigments: chlorophyll-a, bacteriochlorophyll-a, and retinal, which is the chromophore in rhodopsins [1]. While the contribution of chlorophylls to global energy flows and marine carbon cycling has been studied for decades, the role of retinal-based phototrophy remains largely unexplored [1,2]. We report the first vertical distributions of the three energy-converting pigments measured along a contrasting nutrient gradient through the Mediterranean Sea and the Eastern Atlantic Ocean. The highest proteorhodopsin concentrations were observed above the deep chlorophyll-amaxima, and their geographical distribution tended to be inversely related to that of chlorophyll-a. We further show that proteorhodopsins potentially absorb as much or more light energy than chlorophyll-a–based phototrophy and this energy is sufficient to sustain bacterial basal metabolism. Our results suggest that ubiquitous proteorhodopsin-containing heterotrophs are important contributors to the light energy captured in the sea.

scholarly journals Patterns of Diversity of the Rissoidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean Region

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sérgio P. Ávila ◽  
Jeroen Goud ◽  
António M. de Frias Martins
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Geographical Distribution ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Cape Verde ◽  
Deep Waters ◽  
Protective Actions ◽  
Madeira Archipelago ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Parsimony Analysis Of Endemicity

The geographical distribution of the Rissoidae in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea was compiled and is up-to-date until July 2011. All species were classified according to their mode of larval development (planktotrophic and nonplanktotrophic), and bathymetrical zonation (shallow species—those living between the intertidal and 50 m depth, and deep species—those usually living below 50 m depth). 542 species of Rissoidae are presently reported to the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, belonging to 33 genera. The Mediterranean Sea is the most diverse site, followed by Canary Islands, Caribbean, Portugal, and Cape Verde. The Mediterranean and Cape Verde Islands are the sites with higher numbers of endemic species, with predominance ofAlvaniaspp. in the first site, and ofAlvaniaandSchwartziellaat Cape Verde. In spite of the large number of rissoids at Madeira archipelago, a large number of species are shared with Canaries, Selvagens, and the Azores, thus only about 8% are endemic to the Madeira archipelago. Most of the 542-rissoid species that live in the Atlantic and in the Mediterranean are shallow species (323), 110 are considered as deep species, and 23 species are reported in both shallow and deep waters. There is a predominance of nonplanktotrophs in islands, seamounts, and at high and medium latitudes. This pattern is particularly evident in the generaCrisilla, Manzonia, Onoba, Porosalvania, Schwartziella, andSetia. Planktotrophic species are more abundant in the eastern Atlantic and in the Mediterranean Sea. The results of the analysis of the probable directions of faunal flows support the patterns found by both the Parsimony Analysis of Endemicity and the geographical distribution. Four main source areas for rissoids emerge: Mediterranean, Caribbean, Canaries/Madeira archipelagos, and the Cape Verde archipelago. We must stress the high percentage of endemics that occurs in the isolated islands of Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha, Cape Verde archipelago and also the Azores, thus reinforcing the legislative protective actions that the local governments have implemented in these islands during the recent years.

scholarly journals Olfactory foraging in temperate waters: sensitivity to dimethylsulphide of shearwaters in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea

2014 ◽  
Vol 217 (10) ◽  
pp. 1701-1709 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Dell'Ariccia ◽  
A. Celerier ◽  
M. Gabirot ◽  
P. Palmas ◽  
B. Massa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Mediterranean Sea

A Near-Uniform Basin-Wide Sea Level Fluctuation of the Mediterranean Sea

2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 338-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ichiro Fukumori ◽  
Dimitris Menemenlis ◽  
Tong Lee
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Ocean Circulation ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
Level Fluctuation ◽  
Strait Of Gibraltar ◽  
Sea Level Fluctuation ◽  
The Mediterranean

Abstract A new basin-wide oscillation of the Mediterranean Sea is identified and analyzed using sea level observations from the Ocean Topography Experiment (TOPEX)/Poseidon satellite altimeter and a numerical ocean circulation model. More than 50% of the large-scale, nontidal, and non-pressure-driven variance of sea level can be attributed to this oscillation, which is nearly uniform in phase and amplitude across the entire basin. The oscillation has periods ranging from 10 days to several years and has a magnitude as large as 10 cm. The model suggests that the fluctuations are driven by winds at the Strait of Gibraltar and its neighboring region, including the Alboran Sea and a part of the Atlantic Ocean immediately to the west of the strait. Winds in this region force a net mass flux through the Strait of Gibraltar to which the Mediterranean Sea adjusts almost uniformly across its entire basin with depth-independent pressure perturbations. The wind-driven response can be explained in part by wind setup; a near-stationary balance is established between the along-strait wind in this forcing region and the sea level difference between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The amplitude of this basin-wide wind-driven sea level fluctuation is inversely proportional to the setup region’s depth but is insensitive to its width including that of Gibraltar Strait. The wind-driven fluctuation is coherent with atmospheric pressure over the basin and contributes to the apparent deviation of the Mediterranean Sea from an inverse barometer response.

Tirmania pinoyi. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. W. Minter
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Geographical Distribution ◽  
Economic Impacts ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Flowering Plants

Abstract A description is provided for Tirmania pinoyi, which forms mycorrhizas with a range of flowering plants. Some information on its substrata, habitats, economic impacts, dispersal and transmission and conservation status is given, along with details of its geographical distribution (Africa (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia), Asia (Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Yemen), Atlantic Ocean (Spain (Islas Canarias))).

Podospora excentrica. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. W. Minter
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
South America ◽  
Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Geographical Distribution ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
New South ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
South Australia ◽  
South Wales

Abstract A description is provided for Podospora excentrica. Some information on its associated organisms and substrata, dispersal and transmission, habitats and conservation status is given, along with details of its geographical distribution (South America (Venezuela), Atlantic Ocean (Portugal (Madeira)), Australasia (Australia (New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia)), New Zealand, Europe (Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, UK)).

scholarly journals Genetic fingerprinting reveals natal origins of male leatherback turtles encountered in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea

2017 ◽  
Vol 164 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne E. Roden ◽  
Kelly R. Stewart ◽  
Michael C. James ◽  
Kara L. Dodge ◽  
Florence Dell’Amico ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Genetic Fingerprinting ◽  
Leatherback Turtles
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