Fucoid brown algae inject fucoidan carbon into the ocean

Peer reviewe

Structures and functions of algal glycans shape their capacity to sequester carbon in the ocean

Algae synthesise structurally complex glycans to build a protective barrier, the extracellular matrix. One function of matrix glycans is to slow down microorganisms that try to enzymatically enter living algae and degrade and convert their organic carbon back to carbon dioxide. We propose that matrix glycans lock up carbon in the ocean by controlling degradation of organic carbon by bacteria and other microbes not only while algae are alive, but also after death. Data revised in this review shows accumulation of algal glycans in the ocean underscoring the challenge bacteria and other microbes face to breach the glycan barrier with carbohydrate active enzymes. Briefly we also update on methods required to certify the uncertain magnitude and unknown molecular causes of glycan-controlled carbon sequestration in a changing ocean

Glycan-specific analyses conducted on water samples from incubation experiments with seagrass and algae sampled from Tvärminne Zoological Station, Hanko Finland, in August 2020

This data comprises two files. One file called chamber data contains information such as surface area and weight of Fucus vesiculosus and Zostera marina specimen that were used in a 5 h in situ incubation. In a separate sheet, it contains the results of water sample analyses before and after the incubation such as dissolved organic carbon concentrations. The second file contains results from antibody staining and high performance anion exchange chromatography intended to detect and quantify glycans. The field experiments and water sample analyses were conducted in August 2020 at Tvärminne Zoological Station, Hanko Finland. The glycan analyses were performed in 2020 and 2021 at the Max-Planck-Institute for marine microbiology in Bremen, Germany. This data was collected to investigate dissolved organic molecules that are released by seagrass and brown algae within the framework of an Assemble Plus Transnational Access project called Contributions of organic carbon from vegetated coastal ecosystems​

Incubation experiment of Fucus vesiculosus and Zostera marina specimen sampled from Tvärminne Zoological Station, Hanko Finland, in August 2020

This data comprises two files. One file called chamber data contains information such as surface area and weight of Fucus vesiculosus and Zostera marina specimen that were used in a 5 h in situ incubation. In a separate sheet, it contains the results of water sample analyses before and after the incubation such as dissolved organic carbon concentrations. The second file contains results from antibody staining and high performance anion exchange chromatography intended to detect and quantify glycans. The field experiments and water sample analyses were conducted in August 2020 at Tvärminne Zoological Station, Hanko Finland. The glycan analyses were performed in 2020 and 2021 at the Max-Planck-Institute for marine microbiology in Bremen, Germany. This data was collected to investigate dissolved organic molecules that are released by seagrass and brown algae within the framework of an Assemble Plus Transnational Access project called Contributions of organic carbon from vegetated coastal ecosystems​

Above- and belowground biomass, number of blades and surface area of Zostera marina specimen sampled fromTvärminne Zoological Station, Hanko Finland, in August 2020

This data comprises two files. One file called chamber data contains information such as surface area and weight of Fucus vesiculosus and Zostera marina specimen that were used in a 5 h in situ incubation. In a separate sheet, it contains the results of water sample analyses before and after the incubation such as dissolved organic carbon concentrations. The second file contains results from antibody staining and high performance anion exchange chromatography intended to detect and quantify glycans. The field experiments and water sample analyses were conducted in August 2020 at Tvärminne Zoological Station, Hanko Finland. The glycan analyses were performed in 2020 and 2021 at the Max-Planck-Institute for marine microbiology in Bremen, Germany. This data was collected to investigate dissolved organic molecules that are released by seagrass and brown algae within the framework of an Assemble Plus Transnational Access project called Contributions of organic carbon from vegetated coastal ecosystems​

Biomass, surface area and epiphyte biomass of Fucus vesiculosus specimen sampled fromTvärminne Zoological Station, Hanko Finland, in August 2020

This data comprises two files. One file called chamber data contains information such as surface area and weight of Fucus vesiculosus and Zostera marina specimen that were used in a 5 h in situ incubation. In a separate sheet, it contains the results of water sample analyses before and after the incubation such as dissolved organic carbon concentrations. The second file contains results from antibody staining and high performance anion exchange chromatography intended to detect and quantify glycans. The field experiments and water sample analyses were conducted in August 2020 at Tvärminne Zoological Station, Hanko Finland. The glycan analyses were performed in 2020 and 2021 at the Max-Planck-Institute for marine microbiology in Bremen, Germany. This data was collected to investigate dissolved organic molecules that are released by seagrass and brown algae within the framework of an Assemble Plus Transnational Access project called Contributions of organic carbon from vegetated coastal ecosystems​

Oxygen concentrations, dissolved organic carbon concentrations, total dissolved nitrogen concentrations, absorbance and fluorescence of 0.7 µm-filtered seawater from incubation experiments with Fucus vesiculosus and Zostera marina specimen

Water column samples from seagrass incubations were collected into acid washed single use, sterile, 60 mL syringes (Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA) via water column ports on the PVC tubes. Water column samples from algae incubations were collected into acid washed 60 mL syringes after opening incubation bags on board. Water column samples were filtered immediately through a precombusted 45 mm diameter glass microfiber GF/F filter (Whatman, UK). For each sample, 30 mL were pushed through the filter for rinsing before starting collection. To determine the concentration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), 15 mL sample were filtered into a precombusted 24 mL glass vial containing 60 µL 25% hydrochloric acid and the vial sealed with an acid washed teflon-lined cap. Another 10 mL of sample were filtered into a precombusted 12 mL glass vial and the vial sealed with an acid washed teflon-lined cap for colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM) analysis. Subsamples for DOC were frozen at -20°C and samples for CDOM/FDOM were stored at 4°C until analysis within two weeks. Optical FireSting O2 sensors (Pyroscience GmbH, Germany) were used to determine oxygen concentrations in water samples. Calibration of the sensors was achieved using MilliQ water. Oxygen concentrations were measured in 600 mL subsamples from water column within two hours of sample collection. For algae incubations, oxygen concentrations could also be determined in water from incubations without prior filtration. For DOC and TDN concentrations, the samples were analyzed using a Shimadzu TOC-VCPH-analyzer and an autoanalyzer (Aquakem 250). CDOM absorption was measured using a Shimadzu 2401PC spectrophotometer with 5 cm quartz cuvette over the spectral range from 200 to 800 nm with 1 nm resolution. Ultrapure water was used as the blank for all samples. Excitation-emission matrices (EEMs) of FDOM were measured with a Varian Cary Eclipse fluorometer (Agilent). Processing of the EEMs was done using the eemR package for R software. A blank sample of ultrapure water was subtracted from the EEMs, and the Rayleigh and Raman scattering bands were removed from the spectra after calibration. EEMs were calibrated by normalizing to the area under the Raman water scatter peak (excitation wavelength of 350 nm) of an ultrapure water sample run on the same session as the samples, and were corrected for inner filter effects with absorbance spectra