In the vast plume of the Amazon River, microscopic algae adopt a surprisingly flexible survival strategy: They combine photosynthesis with the uptake of organic matter. An international research team led by the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW) has now shown that this so-called mixotrophy becomes the dominant and most successful lifestyle in mature plume waters.

AI summaries can be wrong sometimes—always verify important details using the source link below.