Diatom-driven processes lead to the assimilation of elements from silicate minerals into their frustules

Abstract

To examine whether diatoms dissolve silicate minerals and incorporate foreign metals into their frustules, culture experiments were performed using Achnanthes kuwaitensis Hendey, Eucampia sp. and Coscinodiscus wailesii. These comprised two comparative experiments: (i) an analysis of diatom activities (population, transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) secretion and the Al/Si of frustules) in the presence/absence of feldspar particles, and (ii) an examination of mineral surfaces in the presence/absence of diatoms. Although the presence/absence of silicate minerals did not incur marked differences in diatom population, TEP secretion increased in the presence of silicate particles. Further, it was observed that the girdles of Coscinodiscus frustules showed double Si peaks and the outer layers of the girdles had significantly higher Al/Si ratios than the inner layers when feldspar particles were present. In the diatom cultures, feldspar particles largely disappeared in extended cultivation, and those still present showed rounded or fractured edges, features that were not seen in the absence of diatoms. The presence of diatoms appeared to have more influence on silicate minerals than the presence of silicate minerals on diatom activities. The C/Si ratios of the rounded feldspar grain edges in the Coscinodiscus cultures were significantly higher than those of stepwise edges, that we interpret to indicate that diatoms secrete TEP to dissolve silicate minerals. Two observations substantiated this hypothesis: pH decreases around diatoms, and incorporation of the mineral particles in TEP coatings.

Nevertheless, the physiological advantage for diatoms to dissolve silicate minerals remains unclear. Given the difference in TEP secretion between two different feldspar minerals, we believe that diatoms actively dissolve silicates in order to incorporate silica. We thus propose a mechanism by which diatoms dissolve silicate minerals. This may explain the inclusion of foreign elements at levels, whose relative concentrations are similar to those in terrigenous matter, in diatom frustules.