The Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

2027 Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

January 12-15, 2027

Long-term evolution selects for adaptive mutations in Prochlorococcus under ocean warming
ID:934 Poster Presentation

2027-01-15 16:00 (China Standard Time)

Session:Session 16 - Quantifying marine microbial processes in a changing ocean – synthesizing experiments/fieldwork and models/theories

Abstract
Global warming leads to a sustained increase in sea surface temperature, which is expected to have profound impacts on the ecological functions and evolutionary trajectories of marine microorganisms. The abundant cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus accounts for ~4 Gt C of annual net primary production, yet its long‑term adaptive capacity remains unknown. In this study, we established a long-term experimental evolution system of Prochlorococcus under elevated temperature conditions. Starting from a single ancestral cell, populations were continuously cultured for 785 days at 24, 28, and 30 °C, accumulating more than 400 generations in total and ultimately yielding 187 independent evolutionary lines. The mutation rate increased with temperature, shifting from an AT to a GC bias, suggesting enhanced genomic stability. Multi‑omics revealed that warming selected mutations in six genes, collectively enhancing photosynthesis, mitigating oxidative stress, and reconfiguring central carbon metabolism to reduce biosynthetic resource expenditure. Based on experimentally measured cell-specific rates, we project that by 2100, Prochlorococcus could increase both its net primary production and oxygen release by ~46%, implying a potentially significant contribution to future marine ecosystem stability. These findings challenge the view that warming uniformly reduces its contribution to ocean biogeochemistry, revealing an unappreciated adaptive capacity in this key microbe.
Speaker
Hanqing Zeng College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University

Author
Hanqing Zeng College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University

    Important Dates

    • Jan 30

      2026

      Session / Event proposals open

    • Mar 31

      2026

      Session / Event proposals close
      (Extended to April 7)

    • Apr 30

      2026

      Session acceptance notifications

    • Apr 30

      2026

      Abstract submissions & registration open

    • Jun 30

      2026

      Abstract submissions close
      (Extended to July 21)

    • Aug 31

      2026

      Abstract acceptance notifications

    • Sep 15

      2026

      Scientific program released

    • Oct 15

      2026

      Early bird registration closes

    • Jan 12–15

      2027

      XMAS 2027