Document Type
Article
Department/Program
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Publication Date
9-2018
Journal
JGR Biogeosciences
Volume
123
Issue
9
First Page
2955
Last Page
2975
Abstract
The Southern Ocean is one of the most biologically important ecosystems on our planet. Microscopic plants, called phytoplankton, form the base of the food web in the Southern Ocean and play a direct role in regulating how much and how fast elements like nitrogen and carbon are cycled throughout the world ocean. The goal of this research was to determine how predicted changes in the environment will impact how fast phytoplankton use these elements. The conditions that we tested included elevated temperature, addition of iron, and the proportion of nitrogen to phosphorus in the seawater. These parameters were selected because temperatures are increasing in the Southern Ocean, and the relative availability of nutrients can alter what species of phytoplankton are present and how fast they grow. Phytoplankton were collected from two locations in the Ross Sea, Antarctica, and grown for a few weeks under experimental conditions. Our results demonstrate that all three parameters, warmer temperatures, the addition of iron, and changing nitrogen to phosphorus ratios will increase how fast phytoplankton use nitrogen and carbon, but the impact of elevated temperature and the addition of iron had a much larger impact than the nitrogen to phosphorus ratio.
DOI
10.1029/2017JG004316
Keywords
Ross Sea; Stoichiometry; Temperature; Iron; Nitrogen Uptake; Carbon Uptake
Recommended Citation
Spackeen, JL; Bronk, DA; Sipler, Rachel E.; Bertrand, EM; Hutchins, DA; and Allen, AE, Stoichiometric N:P Ratios, Temperature, and Iron Impact Carbon and Nitrogen Uptake by Ross Sea Microbial Communities (2018). JGR Biogeosciences, 123(9), 2955-2975.
10.1029/2017JG004316
Supplemental Information
