Use of agent-based modeling to explore the mechanisms of intracellular phosphorus heterogeneity in cultured phytoplankton.

ABSTRACT: There can be significant intraspecific individual-level heterogeneity in the intracellular P of phytoplankton, which can affect the population-level growth rate. Several mechanisms can create this heterogeneity, including phenotypic variability in various physiological functions (e.g., nutrient uptake rate). Here, we use modeling to explore the contribution of various mechanisms to the heterogeneity in phytoplankton grown in a laboratory culture. An agent-based model simulates individual cells and their intracellular P. Heterogeneity is introduced by randomizing parameters (e.g., maximum uptake rate) of daughter cells at division. The model was calibrated to observations of the P quota of individual cells of the centric diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana, which were obtained using synchrotron

SUBMITTER: Fredrick ND 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3697497 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature