摘要：SummaryTrichodesmium, a globally important, N2-fixing, and colony-forming cyanobacterium, employs multiple pathways for acquiring nutrients from air-borne dust, including active dust collection. Once concentrated within the colony core, dust can supplyTrichodesmiumwith nutrients. Recently, we reported a selectivity in particle collection enablingTrichodesmiumto center iron-rich minerals and optimize its nutrient utilization. In this follow-up study we examined if colonies select Phosphorus (P) minerals. We incubated 1,200Trichodesmiumcolonies from the Red Sea with P-free CaCO3, P-coated CaCO3, and dust, over an entire bloom season. These colonies preferably interacted, centered, and retained P-coated CaCO3compared with P-free CaCO3. In both studies,Trichodesmiumclearly favored dust over all other particles tested, whereas nutrient-free particles were barely collected or retained, indicating that the colonies sense the particle composition and preferably collect nutrient-rich particles. This unique ability contributes toTrichodesmium's current ecological success and may assist it to flourish in future warmer oceans.Graphical abstractDisplay OmittedHighlights•NaturalTrichodesmiumcolonies collect and maintain dust within their colony core•Using synthetic particles we tested if colonies select the particles they collect•Colonies selectively collect and retain nutrient-rich over nutrient-free particles•Selective collection of particles optimizes their nutrient acquisition from dustGeomicrobiology; Ecology; Microbiology
