scholarly journals Small phytoplankton contribution to the total primary production in the Amundsen Sea

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sang H. Lee ◽  
Bo Kyung Kim ◽  
Yu Jeong Lim ◽  
HuiTae Joo ◽  
Dabin Lee ◽  
...  

Abstract. Small-sized phytoplankton is anticipated to be more important for phytoplankton community in a recent changing ocean condition. However, little information on the contribution of small-sized phytoplankton to overall phytoplankton production is currently available in the Amundsen Sea. To determine the contributions of small-sized phytoplankton to total biomass and primary production, carbon and nitrogen uptake rates of total and small-sized phytoplankton were obtained from 12 productivity stations in the Amundsen Sea. The daily carbon uptake rates of total phytoplankton averaged in this study were 0.42 g C m−2 d−1 (S.D. = ±0.30 g C m−2 d−1) and 0.84 g C m−2 d−1 (S.D. = ±0.18 g C m−2 d−1) whereas the daily total nitrogen (nitrate and ammonium) uptake rates were 0.12 g N m−2 d−1 (S.D. = ±0.09 g N m−2 d−1) and 0.21 g N m−2 d−1 (S.D. = ±0.11 g N m−2 d−1), respectively for non-polynya and polynya regions, which were within the ranges reported previously. Small phytoplankton contributed 26.9 % and 27.7 % to the total carbon and nitrogen uptake rates of phytoplankton in this study, respectively, which were relatively higher than the chlorophyll-a contribution (19.4 %) of small phytoplankton. For a comparison of different regions, the contributions for chlorophyll-a concentration and primary production of small phytoplankton averaged from all the non-polynya stations were 42.4 % and 50.8 %, which were significantly higher than those (7.9 % and 14.9 %, respectively) in polynya region. A strong negative correlation (r2 = 0.790, p 

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (15) ◽  
pp. 3705-3713 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sang H. Lee ◽  
Bo Kyung Kim ◽  
Yu Jeong Lim ◽  
HuiTae Joo ◽  
Jae Joong Kang ◽  
...  

Abstract. Small phytoplankton are anticipated to be more important in a recently warming and freshening ocean condition. However, little information on the contribution of small phytoplankton to overall phytoplankton production is currently available in the Amundsen Sea. To determine the contributions of small phytoplankton to total biomass and primary production, carbon and nitrogen uptake rates of total and small phytoplankton were obtained from 12 productivity stations in the Amundsen Sea. The daily carbon uptake rates of total phytoplankton averaged in this study were 0.42 g C m−2 d−1 (SD  =  ± 0.30 g C m−2 d−1) and 0.84 g C m−2 d−1 (SD  =  ± 0.18 g C m−2 d−1) for non-polynya and polynya regions, respectively, whereas the daily total nitrogen (nitrate and ammonium) uptake rates were 0.12 g N m−2 d−1 (SD  =  ± 0.09 g N m−2 d−1) and 0.21 g N m−2 d−1 (SD  =  ± 0.11 g N m−2 d−1), respectively, for non-polynya and polynya regions, all of which were within the ranges reported previously. Small phytoplankton contributed 26.9 and 27.7 % to the total carbon and nitrogen uptake rates of phytoplankton in this study, respectively, which were relatively higher than the chlorophyll a contribution (19.4 %) of small phytoplankton. For a comparison of different regions, the contributions for chlorophyll a concentration and primary production of small phytoplankton averaged from all the non-polynya stations were 42.4 and 50.8 %, which were significantly higher than those (7.9 and 14.9 %, respectively) in the polynya region. A strong negative correlation (r2 = 0. 790, p<0. 05) was found between the contributions of small phytoplankton and the total daily primary production of phytoplankton in this study. This finding implies that daily primary production decreases as small phytoplankton contribution increases, which is mainly due to the lower carbon uptake rate of small phytoplankton than large phytoplankton.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhavya P. Sadanandan ◽  
Jang Han Lee ◽  
Ho Won Lee ◽  
Jae Joong Kaang ◽  
Jae Hyung Lee ◽  
...  

Abstract. Carbon and nitrogen uptake rates by small phytoplankton (0.7–5 μm) in the Kara, Laptev, and East Siberian seas in the Arctic Ocean were quantified using in situ isotope labelling experiments for the first time as part of the NABOS (Nansen and Amundsen Basins Observational System) program during August 21 to September 22, 2013. The depth integrated C, NO3−, and NH4+ uptake rates by small phytoplankton showed a wide range from 0.54 to 15.96 mg C m−2 h−1, 0.05 to 1.02 and 0.11 to 3.73 mg N m−2 h−1, respectively. The contributions of small phytoplankton towards the total C, NO3−, and NH4+ was varied from 24 to 89 %, 32 to 89 %, and 28 to 89 %, respectively. The turnover times for NO3− and NH4+ by small phytoplankton during the present study point towards the longer residence times (years) of the nutrients in the deeper waters, particularly for NO3−. Relatively, higher C and N uptake rates by small phytoplankton obtained during the present study at locations with less sea ice concentrations points towards the possibility of small phytoplankton thrive under sea ice retreat under warming conditions. The high contributions of small phytoplankton towards the total carbon and nitrogen uptake rates suggest capability of small size autotrophs to withstand in the adverse hydrographic conditions introduced by climate change.


Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 2903
Author(s):  
Bo Kyung Kim ◽  
Hyoung Min Joo ◽  
Jinyoung Jung ◽  
Boyeon Lee ◽  
Sun-Yong Ha

Rapid climate warming and the associated melting of glaciers in high-latitude open fjord systems can have a significant impact on biogeochemical cycles. In this study, the uptake rates of carbon and nitrogen (nitrate and ammonium) of total phytoplankton and picophytoplankton (<2 μm) were measured in Kongsfjorden in early May 2017 using the dual stable isotope technique. The daily uptake rates of total carbon and nitrogen ranged from 0.3 to 1.1 g C m−2 day−1, with a mean of 0.7 ± 0.3 g C m−2 day−1, and 0.13 to 0.17 g N m−2 day−1, with a mean of 0.16 ± 0.02 g N m−2 day−1. Microphytoplankton (20–200 μm) accounted for 68.1% of the total chlorophyll a (chl-a) concentration, while picophytoplankton (<2 μm) accounted for 19.6% of the total chl-a, with a high contribution to the carbon uptake rate (42.9%) due to its higher particulate organic carbon-to-chl-a ratio. The contributions of picophytoplankton to the total nitrogen uptake rates were 47.1 ± 10.6% for nitrate and 74.0 ± 16.7% for ammonium. Our results indicated that picophytoplankton preferred regenerated nitrogen, such as ammonium, for growth and pointed to the importance of the role played by picophytoplankton in the local carbon uptake rate during the early springtime in 2017. Although the phytoplankton community, in terms of biovolume, in all samples was dominated by diatoms and Phaeocystis sp., a higher proportion of nano- and picophytoplankton chl-a (mean ± SD = 71.3 ± 16.4%) was observed in the relatively cold and turbid surface water in the inner fjord. Phytoplankton production (carbon uptake) decreased towards the inner fjord, while nitrogen uptake increased. The contrast in carbon and nitrogen uptake is likely caused by the gradient in glacial meltwater which affects both the light regime and nutrient availability. Therefore, global warming-enhanced glacier melting might support lower primary production (carbon fixation) with higher degrees of regeneration processes in fjord systems.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sang Heon Lee ◽  
Jang Han Lee ◽  
Howon Lee ◽  
Jae Joong Kang ◽  
Jae Hyung Lee ◽  
...  

Abstract. The Laptev and East Siberian seas are the least biologically studied region in the Arctic Ocean, although they are highly dynamic in terms of active processing of organic matter impacting the transport to the deep Arctic Ocean. Field-measured carbon and nitrogen uptake rates of phytoplankton were conducted in the Laptev and East Siberian seas as part of the NABOS (Nansen and Amundsen Basins Observational System) program. Major inorganic nutrients were mostly depleted at 100–50 % light depths but were not depleted within the euphotic depths in the Laptev and East Siberian seas. The water column-integrated chl-a concentration in this study was significantly higher than that in the western Arctic Ocean (t-test, p > 0.01). Unexpectedly, the daily carbon and nitrogen uptake rates in this study (average ± S.D. = 110.3 ± 88.3 mg C m−2 d−1 and 37.0 ± 25.8 mg N m−2 d−1, respectively) are within previously reported ranges. Surprisingly, the annual primary production (13.2 g C m−2) measured in the field during the vegetative season is approximately one order of magnitude lower than the primary production reported from a satellite–based estimation. Further validation using field-measured observations is necessary for a better projection of the ecosystem in the Laptev and East Siberian seas responding to ongoing climate change.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jae Joong Kang ◽  
Hyo Keun Jang ◽  
Jae-Hyun Lim ◽  
Dabin Lee ◽  
Jae Hyung Lee ◽  
...  

The current phytoplankton community structure is expected to change, with small phytoplankton becoming dominant under ongoing warming conditions. To understand and evaluate the ecological roles of small phytoplankton in terms of food quantity and quality, the carbon uptake rates and intracellular biochemical compositions (i.e., carbohydrates, CHO; proteins, PRT; and lipids, LIP) of phytoplankton of different sizes were analyzed and compared in two different regions of the western East/Japan Sea (EJS): the Ulleung Basin (UB) and northwestern East/Japan Sea (NES). The average carbon uptake rate by the whole phytoplankton community in the UB (79.0 ± 12.2 mg C m–2 h–1) was approximately two times higher than that in the NES (40.7 ± 2.2 mg C m–2 h–1), although the average chlorophyll a (chl a) concentration was similar between the UB (31.0 ± 8.4 mg chl a m–2) and NES (28.4 ± 7.9 mg chl a m–2). The main reasons for the large difference in the carbon uptake rates are believed to be water temperature, which affects metabolic activity and growth rate, and the difference in euphotic depths. The contributions of small phytoplankton to the total carbon uptake rate were not significantly different between the regions studied. However, the rate of decrease in the total carbon uptake with increasing contributions from small phytoplankton was substantially higher in the UB than in the NES. This result suggests that compared to other regions in the EJS, the primary production in the UB could decrease rapidly under ongoing climate change. The calorific contents calculated based on biochemical compositions were similar between the small (1.01 ± 0.33 Kcal m–3) and large (1.14 ± 0.36 Kcal m–3) phytoplankton in the UB, whereas the biochemical contents were higher in the large phytoplankton (1.88 ± 0.54 Kcal m–3) than in the small phytoplankton (1.06 ± 0.18 Kcal m–3) in the NES. The calorific values per unit of chl a were higher for the large phytoplankton than for the small phytoplankton in both regions, which suggests that large phytoplankton could provide a more energy efficient food source to organisms in higher trophic levels in the western EJS.


2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (18) ◽  
pp. 5503-5517 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Sadanandan Bhavya ◽  
Jang Han Lee ◽  
Ho Won Lee ◽  
Jae Joong Kang ◽  
Jae Hyung Lee ◽  
...  

Abstract. Carbon and nitrogen uptake rates by small phytoplankton (0.7–5 µm) in the Kara, Laptev, and East Siberian seas in the Arctic Ocean were quantified using in situ isotope labeling experiments; this research, which was novel and part of the NABOS (Nansen and Amundsen Basins Observational System) program, took place from 21 August to 22 September 2013. The depth-integrated carbon (C), nitrate (NO3-), and ammonium (NH4+) uptake rates by small phytoplankton ranged from 0.54 to 15.96 mg C m−2 h−1, 0.05 to 1.02 mg C m−2 h−1, and 0.11 to 3.73 mg N m−2 h−1, respectively. The contributions of small phytoplankton towards the total C, NO3-, and NH4+ varied from 25 % to 89 %, 31 % to 89 %, and 28 % to 91 %, respectively. The turnover times for NO3- and NH4+ by small phytoplankton found in the present study indicate the longer residence times (years) of the nutrients in the deeper waters, particularly for NO3-. Additionally, the relatively higher C and N uptake rates by small phytoplankton obtained in the present study from locations with less sea ice concentration indicate the possibility that small phytoplankton thrive under the retreat of sea ice as a result of warming conditions. The high contributions of small phytoplankton to the total C and N uptake rates suggest the capability of small autotrophs to withstand the adverse hydrographic conditions introduced by climate change.


2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1829-1869
Author(s):  
R. Philibert ◽  
H. Waldron ◽  
D. Clark

Abstract. Primary production in the Southern Ocean has been shown to be regulated by light and nutrients (such as silicate and iron) availability. However, the impact of these factors vary seasonally and differ from region to region. The seasonal cycle of primary production in this region is not fully resolved over an annual scale due to the lack of winter in situ measurements. In this study, nitrate and ammonium uptake rates were measured using 15N tracers during a winter cruise in July 2012 and a summer cruise in February/March 2013. In winter, nitrogen uptake rates were measured at 55% and 1% of the surface photosynthetically active radiation (sPAR). The summer uptake rates were measured at 4 light depths corresponding to 55, 30, 10 and 3% sPAR. The integrated nitrate uptake rates during the winter cruise ranged from 0.16–5.20 (average 1.14) mmol N m−2 d−1 while the ammonium uptake rates ranged from 0.6–32.8 (average 6.72) mmol N m−2 d−1. During the summer cruise, the mean integrated nitrate uptake rate was 0.34 mmol N m−2 d−1 with a range between 0.16–0.65 mmol N m−2 d−1. The integrated ammonium uptake rate averaged 5.61 mmol N m−2 d−1 and ranged from 1.44–11.28 mmol N m−2 d−1. The factors controlling primary production in winter and summer were investigated. During the winter cruise, it was found the different nitrogen uptake regimes were not separated by fronts. Light (in terms of day length) and ammonium concentration had the most influence on the nitrogen uptake regime. In the summer, increases in the mixed layer depth (MLD) resulted in increased nitrogen uptake rates. This suggests that the increases in the MLD could be alleviating nutrient limitations experienced by the phytoplankton at the end of summer.


2006 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 1115-1129 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C Depew ◽  
Stephanie J Guildford ◽  
Ralph E.H Smith

Planktonic primary production, chlorophyll a (chl a), underwater light climate, and total phosphorus were measured at 18 stations during 2001 and 2002 in eastern Lake Erie to characterize spatial and seasonal patterns in this system colonized by dreissenid mussels (Dreissena spp.). Areal production rates and chl a displayed a seasonal pattern typical of the Laurentian Great Lakes, with highest production in the early and late summer. Daily and seasonal (May–October) primary production was significantly lower nearshore than offshore. Although light attenuation was similar between nearshore and offshore, the nearshore light climate was generally more favorable for phytoplankton because of shallower mixing depths. However, chl a was significantly lower nearshore, which accounted for most of the depression in production rates. Nearshore chl a was lower than predicted from relationships with total phosphorus in comparable dreissenid-free systems. Offshore, subepilimnetic communities contributed up to 67% of daily production but only up to 19% of seasonal production. The depression of chl a and primary production in the nearshore was a reversal from historic patterns in eastern Lake Erie and from the pattern traditionally expected in large lakes. Decreased external nutrient loading and dreissenid colonization may both have contributed to this new spatial pattern, but dreissenids appear to be key agents.


2019 ◽  
Vol 124 (11) ◽  
pp. 8324-8341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Jeong Lim ◽  
Tae‐Wan Kim ◽  
SangHoon Lee ◽  
Dabin Lee ◽  
Jisoo Park ◽  
...  

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