Microbial rhodopsins are increasingly favored over chlorophyll in High Nutrient Low Chlorophyll waters
B. Hassanzadeh, B. Thomson, F. Deans, J. Wenley, S. Lockwood, K. Currie, S. Morales, L. Steindler, S. Sanudo-Wilhelmy, F. Baltar, L. Gomez-Consarnau
The paper reports high concentrations of microbial rhodopsins in HNLC waters where chlorophyll-a is low, suggesting rhodopsin phototrophy may compensate for impaired photosynthesis and respiration.
bioRxiv · Mar 30, 2021Ecology