Mechanisms that increase the growth efficiency of diatoms in low light

Photoacclimation was studied in Thalassiosira pseudonana to help understand mechanisms underlying the success of diatoms in low-light environments, such as coastal and deep mixing ecosystems. Light harvesting and other cell characteristics were combined with oxygen and carbon production measurements to assess the water-splitting reaction at PSII ( GPP_O_2 ) and intermediate steps leading to net carbon production (NPP C ). These measurements revealed that T. pseudonana is remarkably efficient at converting harvested light energy into biomass, with at least 57