Marine biology actively investigates the adaptive strategies of diatoms, dominant primary producers in many ecosystems, under varied light conditions through the lenses of photophysiology and phototaxis. Such research is aimed at uncovering how diatoms adjust their photosynthesis and protective mechanisms to optimize light energy harvesting and utilization, and reduce photodamage in unstable and/or extreme light environments. Furthermore, interest is increasing in how diatoms have evolved unique photoadaptive strategies due to extreme variations in light, including long periods of very low light or darkness and brief spans of intense light during minimal seasonal changes, in ecosystems where they dominate the primary production such as polar regions, coastal sediments, etc. This area of study promises to reveal significant insights but also highlights a gap: the comprehensive understanding of how these adaptive mechanisms are integrated across growth forms and species from differing climatic zones, from temperate to polar waters.

This Research Topic aims to deepen our understanding of diatom adaptive mechanisms under varying light conditions, studying both their photoacclimation and photoprotection strategies across diverse environments and habitats. It intends to connect cellular-level photophysiological mechanisms with broader ecological and evolutionary outcomes, providing a detailed exploration of diatom productivity, resilience and adaptability.

To achieve a deeper understanding of the photoadaptive mechanisms and evolutionary histories of diatoms, this Research Topic invites contributions that address, but are not limited to, the following themes:

o Mechanisms of photoacclimation in diatoms responding to dynamic versus stable light conditions.

o Evolutionary adaptations of diatoms to extreme light environments, such as long periods of very low light or darkness, possibly coupled with other environmental stresses (temperature, salinity, nutrient availability, etc.).

o Comparative analysis of light-response strategies between diatom growth forms: planktonic, benthic, sympagic, etc.

o The mechanisms and role of light-driven motility and light-guided navigation in the photoacclimation of diatoms, and the interplay between photophysiology and phototaxis.

o The effects of photoacclimation and photoprotection on the dynamics of ecosystems and diatom community structures across various marine and freshwater environments (estuaries, fjords, lakes, etc. in polar and temperate regions).

o The demonstration of novel experimental setups and methodologies to study diatom photobiology and photophysiology.

o The optics properties of living diatoms, their cell wall and their collective organization (biofilm, etc.), and their consequences on diatoms ecophysiology and ecology.

o The use of new knowledge on diatom photophysiology and photobiology for marine biotechnology purposes (bioproduction of metabolites of interest, etc.).

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Illuminating the Photobiology of Diatom Microalgae: Advances and Challenges