Fig. 1
Cartoon representation of the proposed dust-bound Fe acquisition pathway employed mutually by Trichodesmium colonies and associated bacteria. a The N2-fixing marine cyanobacterium Trichodesmium spp., which commonly occurs in tropical and sub-tropical waters, is of large environmental significance in fertilizing the ocean with important nutrients. b Trichodesmium can establish massive blooms in nutrient poor ocean regions with high dust deposition, partly due to their unique ability to capture dust, center it, and subsequently dissolve it. c The current study explores biotic interactions within Trichodesmium colonies that lead to enhanced dissolution and acquisition of iron from dust. Bacteria residing within the colonies produce siderophores (c-I) that react with the dust particles in the colony core and generate dissolved Fe (c-II). This dissolved Fe, complexed by siderophores, is then acquired by both Trichodesmium and its resident bacteria (c-III), resulting in a mutual benefit to both partners of the consortium
