Low iron (Fe) and phosphorus (P) ocean regions are often home to the globally important N 2 ‐fixing cyanobacterium Trichodesmium spp., which are physiologically adapted to Fe/P co‐limitation. Given Trichodesmium 's eminent ability to capture particles and the common associations between Fe and P in sediments and aerosols, we hypothesized that mineral bio‐dissolution by Trichodesmium spp. may enable them to co‐acquire Fe and P....

Colonies of the N 2 ‐fixing cyanobacterium Trichodesmium can harbor distinct chemical microenvironments that may assist the colonies in acquiring mineral iron from dust. Here, we characterized O 2 and pH gradients in and around Trichodesmium colonies by microsensor measurements on > 170 colonies collected in the Gulf of Eilat over ∼ 2 months. O 2 concentrations and pH values in the center of single colonies decreased in the da...

The high iron (Fe) demands of Trichodesmium , a keystone nitrogen‐fixing cyanobacterium, are often met by dust deposition at the ocean surface. Following up on our findings of unique dust capturing and processing by Trichodesmium , we explored the ability of natural Trichodesmium colonies from the Gulf of Aqaba and Fe‐limited laboratory culture (IMS101) to obtain Fe from the mineral ferrihydrite and compete with their epibioti...