1. Mixotrophy in aquatic plants, an overlooked ability
- Author
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Antoine Firmin, Marc-André Selosse, Christophe Dunand, Arnaud Elger, Laboratoire Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement (ECOLAB), Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Institut Ecologie et Environnement (INEE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National Polytechnique (Toulouse) (Toulouse INP), Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP), Météo France-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Météo France-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB ), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN)-École pratique des hautes études (EPHE), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université des Antilles (UA), University of Gdańsk (UG), Dynamique et Evolution des Parois cellulaires végétales, Laboratoire de Recherche en Sciences Végétales (LRSV), Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National Polytechnique (Toulouse) (Toulouse INP), Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), and Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,Heterotroph ,Plant Science ,Biology ,01 natural sciences ,Carbon Cycle ,03 medical and health sciences ,mixotrophy ,Aquatic plant ,[SDV.BV]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Vegetal Biology ,Organic matter ,14. Life underwater ,Autotroph ,Ecosystem ,030304 developmental biology ,chemistry.chemical_classification ,heterotrophy ,Autotrophic Processes ,0303 health sciences ,Ecology ,010604 marine biology & hydrobiology ,Aquatic ecosystem ,Plants ,15. Life on land ,dissolved organic carbon ,Carbon ,6. Clean water ,aquatic plant ,chemistry ,Mixotroph - Abstract
International audience; Aquatic plants are crucial for the proper functioning of aquatic environments. So far, mixotrophy, widespread in aquatic microbial communities and in certain terrestrial plants, has been studied rarely in aquatic plants other than carnivorous ones. New evidence, particularly in Lemna and other close genera, suggests that mixotrophy is much more widespread than previously thought. Three processes could be involved, namely biotrophic associations, capture of prey (e.g., in carnivorous plants), and absorbotrophy (uptake of dissolved organic carbon). The latter process seems to be the most probable hypothesis in regard to the physiology of aquatic plants, but further research at both organism and cellular levels is needed to understand and clarify the processes involved and their importance. This opinion opens a new window of opportunity in aquatic ecology, with possible unsuspected applications in water management.
- Published
- 2022