What is it about?
The oceanic region of the Atlantic affected by the Amazon river freshwater discharge is a highly dynamic environment with a mosaic of different phytoplankton communities. This region as previously seen massive blooms of nitrogen fixing cyanobacteria in association with diatom hosts (DDAs), which play a vital role for input of bioavailable nitrogen in the ecosystem and the subsequent drawdown of carbon from the atmosphere to the ocean floor. By use of a sophisticated statistical model, which aims at resolving causality, and the input of ca 20 environmental parameters, we managed to describe the differences between environmental preferences for the DDAs during bloom and non-bloom conditions.
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Why is it important?
The statistical model used is a novel approach to this kind of data, and it has never before been applied to marine nitrogen fixation research. It helped reveal unexpected patterns and connections between parameters in a highly complex system, making it possible to describe indirect and cascading effects in the ecosystem. Our application of the model also opens up for future studies on related ecosystems and generates testable hypotheses.
Perspectives
Optimization of the statistical model to my biological system was a real challenge, but once the framework of parameters was in place it was an easy task generating an understandable output for ecological interpretation. For future projects I've applied the same model for data exploration where it has helped me narrow down my hypotheses.
Marcus Stenegren
Stockholm University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Piecewise Structural Equation Model (SEM) Disentangles the Environmental Conditions Favoring Diatom Diazotroph Associations (DDAs) in the Western Tropical North Atlantic (WTNA), Frontiers in Microbiology, May 2017, Frontiers,
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00810.
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