Marine diatom uptake of iron bound with natural colloids of different origins

Natural colloids are abundant in seawater and are an intermediary in the fate, transport and bioavailability of many trace elements. Knowledge of the pathways and mechanisms of the biological uptake of colloidal Fe and other Fe species is of paramount importance in understanding Fe limitation on marine phytoplankton and thus carbon sequestration in the ocean. Whether the natural colloids serve as a source for the biological Fe requirements of marine phytoplankton, or just as a sink for particle-reactive metals in the oceans remains largely unknown. This study examined the bioavailability of Fe bound with colloids from different regions to a coastal diatom (Thalassiosira pseudonana). Natural colloids were isolated by cross-flow ultrafiltration and radiolabeled with ⁵⁹Fe before being exposed to phytoplankton. Control experiments were conducted to ensure that ⁵⁹Fe radiolabeled onto the colloids remained mostly in the colloidal phase. Both the natural oceanic and coastal colloidal organic matter complexed Fe (1 nm–0.2 μm) can be biologically available to the marine diatom even though its uptake was lower than the low molecular weight counterparts. By comparing the measured Fe internalization fluxes and the calculated maximum diffusive uptake fluxes, it is evident that ligand exchange kinetics on the cell surface may control the internalization of macromolecular Fe. The calculated concentration factors under dark and light conditions were generally comparable. Colloidal Fe, as an important intermediary phase, can be actively involved in the planktonic food web transfer through biological uptake and regeneration processes. The bioavailable fraction of Fe may be substantially underestimated by only considering the truly dissolved Fe or overestimated when using the external fluxes, such as aerosol Fe, as the bioavailable fraction.