Genome-resolved biogeography of Phaeocystales, cosmopolitan bloom-forming algae

Phaeocystales, comprising the genus Phaeocystis and an uncharacterized sister lineage, are nanoplanktonic haptophytes widespread in the global ocean. Several species form mucilaginous colonies and influence key biogeochemical cycles, yet their underlying diversity and ecological strategies remain underexplored. Here, we present new genomic data from 13 strains, including three high-quality reference genomes (N50 > 30 kbp), and integrate previous metagenome-assembled genomes to resolve a robust phylogeny. Divergence timing of P. antarctica aligns with Miocene cooling and Southern Ocean isolation. Genomic traits reveal metabolic flexibility, including mixotrophic nitrogen acquisition in temperate waters and gene expansions linked to polar nutrient adaptation. Concordantly, transcriptomic comparisons between temperate and polar Phaeocystis suggest Southern Ocean populations experience iron and B<sub>12</sub> limitation. We also identify signatures of horizontal gene transfer and endogenous giant virus/virophage insertions. Together, these findings highlight Phaeocystales as an ecologically versatile and geographically widespread lineage shaped by evolutionary innovation and adaptation to contrasting environmental stressors.

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Journal
Nature Communications
Published
2025-09-29
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-63565-1
Primary Topic
Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Genome-resolved biogeography of Phaeocystales, cosmopolitan bloom-forming algae

Margaret Mars Brisbin, Zoltán Füssy, Igor V. Grigoriev, Chase C. James et al.
Nature Communications
Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
article

Genome-resolved biogeography of Phaeocystales, cosmopolitan bloom-forming algae

Margaret Mars Brisbin, Zoltán Füssy, Igor V. Grigoriev, Chase C. James, Miroslav Obornı́k, Kerrie Barry, Marc E. Frischer, Ian Probert, Brendan Wilson-Mortier, Giacomo R. DiTullio, David Goodstein, Jerry Jenkins, Kevin R. Arrigo, Richard D. Hayes, Mak A. Saito, Tomáš Skalický, Andrew E. Allen, Colomban de Vargas, Johan Decelle, Jeremy Schmutz, Pratap Venepally, Liam D. H. Elbourne, Adam B. Kustka, Corina P. D. Brussaard, Ian T. Paulsen, Pavlína Věchtová, Karsten Zengler, Diego Tec-Campos, Anna M. G. Novák Vanclová, Robert H. Lampe, Caroline Juéry, Florian Maumus, Adam Healey, Hannah Tomelka, Hong Zheng, Manish Kumar
article en

Abstract

Phaeocystales, comprising the genus Phaeocystis and an uncharacterized sister lineage, are nanoplanktonic haptophytes widespread in the global ocean. Several species form mucilaginous colonies and influence key biogeochemical cycles, yet their underlying diversity and ecological strategies remain underexplored. Here, we present new genomic data from 13 strains, including three high-quality reference genomes (N50 > 30 kbp), and integrate previous metagenome-assembled genomes to resolve a robust phylogeny. Divergence timing of P. antarctica aligns with Miocene cooling and Southern Ocean isolation. Genomic traits reveal metabolic flexibility, including mixotrophic nitrogen acquisition in temperate waters and gene expansions linked to polar nutrient adaptation. Concordantly, transcriptomic comparisons between temperate and polar Phaeocystis suggest Southern Ocean populations experience iron and B<sub>12</sub> limitation. We also identify signatures of horizontal gene transfer and endogenous giant virus/virophage insertions. Together, these findings highlight Phaeocystales as an ecologically versatile and geographically widespread lineage shaped by evolutionary innovation and adaptation to contrasting environmental stressors.

Nature CommunicationsVol. 16(1)
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US), University of Southern California (US), Skidaway Institute of Oceanography (US), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), J. Craig Venter Institute (US), United States Department of Energy (US), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (US), Scripps Institution of Oceanography (US), University of Georgia (US), Joint Genome Institute (US), College of Charleston (US), AgroParisTech (FR), Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (FR), Université Paris-Saclay (FR), Station Biologique de Roscoff (FR), CEA Grenoble (FR), University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice (CZ), University of California San Diego (US), Sorbonne Université (FR), Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (FR), Institut des Sciences des Plantes de Paris Saclay (FR), NCCOS Hollings Marine Laboratory (US), Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NL), Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin (FR), ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology (AU), Institut de Biologie de l'École Normale Supérieure (FR), La Jolla Bioengineering Institute (US), European Molecular Biology Laboratory (DE), HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology (US), Institute of Parasitology (CZ), Czech Academy of Sciences, Biology Centre (CZ), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (US), University of South Florida St. Petersburg (US), University of Amsterdam (NL), Université Grenoble Alpes (FR), University of California, Berkeley (US), Stanford University (US), Macquarie University (AU)
National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, Joint Genome Institute, European Commission, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Grantová Agentura České Republiky, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Science
Openalex Percentile: Top 74%
Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
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