scholarly journals Sourcing the iron in the naturally-fertilised bloom around the Kerguelen Plateau: particulate trace metal dynamics

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 13389-13432 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. van der Merwe ◽  
A. R. Bowie ◽  
F. Quéroué ◽  
L. Armand ◽  
S. Blain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Water Temperature ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Coastal Waters ◽  
Polar Front ◽  
Reference Station ◽  
Kerguelen Plateau ◽  
Lower Productivity ◽  
Winter Water Temperature ◽  
Shallow Coastal Waters

Abstract. The KEOPS2 project aims to elucidate the role of natural Fe fertilisation on biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem functioning, including quantifying the sources and processes by which iron is delivered in the vicinity of the Kerguelen Archipelago, Southern Ocean. The KEOPS2 process study used an upstream HNLC, deep water (2500 m), reference station to compare with a shallow (500 m), strongly fertilised plateau station and continued the observations to a downstream, bathymetrically trapped recirculation of the Polar Front where eddies commonly form and persist for hundreds of kilometres into the Southern Ocean. Over the Kerguelen Plateau, mean particulate (1–53 μm) Fe and Al concentrations (pFe = 13.4 nM, pAl = 25.2 nM) were more than 20-fold higher than at an offshore (lower-productivity) reference station (pFe = 0.53 nM, pAl = 0.83 nM). In comparison, over the plateau dissolved Fe levels were only elevated by a factor of ∼2. Over the Kerguelen Plateau, ratios of pMn/pAl and pFe/pAl resemble basalt, likely originating from glacial/fluvial inputs into shallow coastal waters. In downstream, offshore deep-waters, higher pFe/pAl, and pMn/pAl ratios were observed, suggesting loss of lithogenic material accompanied by retention of pFe and pMn. Biological uptake of dissolved Fe and Mn and conversion into the biogenic particulate fraction or aggregation of particulate metals onto bioaggregates also increased these ratios further in surface waters as the bloom developed within the recirculation structure. While resuspension of shelf sediments is likely to be one of the important mechanisms of Fe fertilisation over the plateau, fluvial and glacial sources appear to be important to areas downstream of the island. Vertical profiles within an offshore recirculation feature associated with the Polar Front show pFe and pMn levels that were 6-fold and 3.5-fold lower respectively than over the plateau in surface waters, though still 3.6-fold and 1.7-fold higher respectively than the reference station. Within the recirculation feature, strong depletions of pFe and pMn were observed in the remnant winter water (temperature-minimum) layer near 175 m, with higher values above and below this depth. The correspondence between the pFe minima and the winter water temperature minima implies a seasonal cycle is involved in the supply of pFe into the fertilized region. This observed association is indicative of reduced supply in winter, which is counterintuitive if sediment resuspension and entrainment within the mixed layer is the primary fertilising mechanism to the downstream recirculation structure. Therefore, we hypothesise that lateral transport of pFe from shallow coastal waters is strong in spring, associated with snow melt and increased runoff due to rainfall, drawdown through summer and reduced supply in winter when snowfall and freezing conditions predominate in the Kerguelen region.

scholarly journals Sourcing the iron in the naturally fertilised bloom around the Kerguelen Plateau: particulate trace metal dynamics

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 739-755 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. van der Merwe ◽  
A. R. Bowie ◽  
F. Quéroué ◽  
L. Armand ◽  
S. Blain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Water Temperature ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Coastal Waters ◽  
Polar Front ◽  
Reference Station ◽  
Kerguelen Plateau ◽  
Lower Productivity ◽  
Winter Water Temperature ◽  
Shallow Coastal Waters

Abstract. The KEOPS2 project aims to elucidate the role of natural Fe fertilisation on biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem functioning, including quantifying the sources and processes by which iron is delivered in the vicinity of the Kerguelen Archipelago, Southern Ocean. The KEOPS2 process study used an upstream high-nutrient, low-chlorophyll (HNLC), deep water (2500 m), reference station to compare with a shallow (500 m), strongly fertilised plateau station and continued the observations to a downstream, bathymetrically trapped recirculation of the Polar Front where eddies commonly form and persist for hundreds of kilometres into the Southern Ocean. Over the Kerguelen Plateau, mean particulate (1–53 μm) Fe and Al concentrations (pFe = 13.4 nM, pAl = 25.2 nM) were more than 20-fold higher than at an offshore (lower-productivity) reference station (pFe = 0.53 nM, pAl = 0.83 nM). In comparison, over the plateau dissolved Fe levels were only elevated by a factor of ~ 2. Over the Kerguelen Plateau, ratios of pMn / pAl and pFe / pAl resemble basalt, likely originating from glacial/fluvial inputs into shallow coastal waters. In downstream, offshore deep-waters, higher pFe / pAl, and pMn / pAl ratios were observed, suggesting loss of lithogenic material accompanied by retention of pFe and pMn. Biological uptake of dissolved Fe and Mn and conversion into the biogenic particulate fraction or aggregation of particulate metals onto bioaggregates also increased these ratios further in surface waters as the bloom developed within the recirculation structure. While resuspension of shelf sediments is likely to be one of the important mechanisms of Fe fertilisation over the plateau, fluvial and glacial sources appear to be important to areas downstream of the island. Vertical profiles within an offshore recirculation feature associated with the Polar Front show pFe and pMn levels that were 6-fold and 3.5-fold lower, respectively, than over the plateau in surface waters, though still 3.6-fold and 1.7-fold higher respectively than the reference station. Within the recirculation feature, strong depletions of pFe and pMn were observed in the remnant winter water (temperature-minimum) layer near 175 m, with higher values above and below this depth. The correspondence between the pFe minima and the winter water temperature minima implies a seasonal cycle is involved in the supply of pFe into the fertilised region. This observed association is indicative of reduced supply in winter, which is counterintuitive if sediment resuspension and entrainment within the mixed layer is the primary fertilising mechanism to the downstream recirculation structure. Therefore, we hypothesise that lateral transport of pFe from shallow coastal waters is strong in spring, associated with snow melt and increased runoff due to rainfall, drawdown through summer and reduced supply in winter when snowfall and freezing conditions predominate in the Kerguelen region.

scholarly journals Unveiling the Si cycle using isotopes in an iron-fertilized zone of the Southern Ocean: from mixed-layer supply to export

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (21) ◽  
pp. 6049-6066 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivia Closset ◽  
Damien Cardinal ◽  
Mathieu Rembauville ◽  
François Thil ◽  
Stéphane Blain
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Isotopic Composition ◽  
Mass Balance ◽  
Silicic Acid ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Polar Front ◽  
Biogeochemical Cycle ◽  
Reference Station ◽  
Kerguelen Plateau ◽  
Fractionation Factor

Abstract. A massive diatom bloom forms annually in the surface waters of the naturally iron-fertilized Kerguelen Plateau (Southern Ocean). In this study, silicon isotopic signatures (δ30Si) of silicic acid (DSi) and suspended biogenic silica (BSi) were investigated through the whole water column with unprecedented spatial resolution, during the KEOPS-2 experiment (spring 2011). We used δ30Si measurements to track the sources of silicon that fuelled the bloom, and investigated the seasonal evolution of the Si biogeochemical cycle in the iron-fertilized area. We compared the results from stations with various degrees of iron enrichment and bloom conditions to an HNLC reference station. Dissolved and particulate δ30Si signatures were highly variable in the upper 500 m, reflecting the effect of intense silicon utilization in spring, while they were quite homogeneous in deeper waters. The Si isotopic and mass balance identified a unique Winter Water (WW) Si source for the iron-fertilized area that originated from southeast of the Kerguelen Plateau and spread northward. When the WW reached a retroflection of the Polar Front (PF), the δ30Si composition of the silicic acid pool became progressively heavier. This would result from sequential diapycnal and isopycnal mixings between the initial WW and ML water masses, highlighting the strong circulation of surface waters that defined this zone. When comparing the results from the two KEOPS expeditions, the relationship between DSi depletion, BSi production, and their isotopic composition appears decoupled in the iron-fertilized area. This seasonal decoupling could help to explain the low apparent fractionation factor observed in the ML at the end of summer. Taking into account these considerations, we refined the seasonal net BSi production in the ML of the iron-fertilized area to 3.0 ± 0.3 mol Si m−2 yr−1, which was exclusively sustained by surface water phytoplankton populations. These insights confirm that the isotopic composition of dissolved and particulate silicon is a promising tool to improve our understanding of the Si biogeochemical cycle since the isotopic and mass balance allows resolution of processes in the Si cycle (i.e. uptake, dissolution, mixing).

scholarly journals Unveiling the Si cycle using isotopes in an iron fertilized zone of the Southern Ocean: from mixed layer supply to export

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivia Closset ◽  
Damien Cardinal ◽  
Mathieu Rembauville ◽  
François Thil ◽  
Stéphane Blain
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Isotopic Composition ◽  
Mass Balance ◽  
Silicic Acid ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Polar Front ◽  
Biogeochemical Cycle ◽  
Reference Station ◽  
Kerguelen Plateau ◽  
Fractionation Factor

Abstract. A massive diatom-bloom is observed annually in the surface waters of the naturally Fe-fertilized Kerguelen Plateau (Southern Ocean). In this study, silicon isotopic signatures (δ30Si) of silicic acid (DSi) and suspended biogenic silica (BSi) were investigated in the whole water column with an unprecedented spatial resolution in this region, during the KEOPS-2 experiment (spring 2011). We use δ30Si measurements to track the silicon sources that fuel the bloom, and investigate the seasonal evolution of Si biogeochemical cycle in the iron fertilized area. We compare the results from a HNLC reference station with stations characterized by different degrees of iron enrichment and bloom conditions. Dissolved and particulate δ30Si signatures were generally highly variable in the upper 500 m, reflecting the effect of the intense silicon utilization in spring, while they were quite homogeneous in deeper waters. The Si-isotopic and mass balance identified a unique WW Si-source for the iron-fertilized area originating from the southeastern Kerguelen Plateau and spreading northward. However, when reaching a retroflection of the Polar Front (PF), the δ30Si composition of WW silicic acid pool was getting progressively heavier. This would result from sequential diapycnal mixings between these initial WW and ML water masses, highlighting the strong circulation of surface waters that defined this zone. When comparing the results from the two KEOPS expeditions, the relationship between DSi depletion, BSi production and their isotopic composition appears decoupled in the iron fertilized area. This seasonal decoupling could help to explain the low apparent fractionation factor observed here in the ML at the end of summer. Taking into account these considerations, we refined the seasonal net BSi production in the ML of the iron-fertilized area to 3.0 ± 0.3 mol Si m−2 y−1, that was exclusively sustained by surface water phytoplankton populations. These insights confirm that the isotopic composition of dissolved and particulate silicon is a promising tool to improve our understanding on the Si-biogeochemical cycle since the isotopic and mass balance allows resolving the processes involved i.e. uptake, dissolution, mixing.

The distribution and abundance of viruses in the Southern Ocean during spring

2000 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 414-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harvey Marchant ◽  
Andrew Davidson ◽  
Simon Wright ◽  
John Glazebrook
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Sea Ice ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Polar Front ◽  
Open Ocean ◽  
Bacterial Concentration ◽  
Viral Abundance ◽  
Chroococcoid Cyanobacteria ◽  
Bacterial Concentrations

The concentrations of viruses, bacteria, chroococcoid cyanobacteria and chlorophyll a were determined in surface waters of the Southern Ocean during spring. Viral concentrations declined southward from around 4 × 106 ml−1 near Tasmania to a minimum of around 1 × 106 ml−1 at the Polar Front. South of the Front, virus concentrations increased again, reaching around 4 × 106 ml−1 in the sea-ice zone south of 60°S. Bacterial concentration decreased southwards across the Southern Ocean from around 6.5 × 105 ml−1 near Tasmania to < 1.0 × 105 ml−1 in the sea-ice zone. Cyanobacteria accounted for < 8% of the prokaryotes. There was no significant relationship between viral abundance and eithercyanobacterial or chl a concentration. Viral and bacterial concentrations were not significantly correlated north (P {0.10 < r < 0.20}) or south (P {0.20 < r < 0.5}) of the Polar Front. The virus to bacteria ratio (VBR) was between 3 and 15 in the open ocean but varied between 15 and 40 in the sea-ice region. These virus concentrations and VBRs indicate that viruses are no less important in Southern Ocean ecosystems than elsewhere in the world's oceans.

scholarly journals Carbonate saturation state of surface waters in the Ross Sea and Southern Ocean: controls and implications for the onset of aragonite undersaturation

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 8429-8465 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. B. DeJong ◽  
R. B. Dunbar ◽  
D. A. Mucciarone ◽  
D. A. Koweek
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Ross Sea ◽  
Polar Front ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Total Alkalinity ◽  
Saturation State ◽  
System Data ◽  
Algal Photosynthesis ◽  
Carbon System

Abstract. Predicting when surface waters of the Ross Sea and Southern Ocean will become undersaturated with respect to biogenic carbonate minerals is challenging in part due to the lack of baseline high resolution carbon system data. Here we present ~ 1700 surface total alkalinity measurements from the Ross Sea and along a transect between the Ross Sea and southern Chile from the austral autumn (February–March 2013). We calculate the saturation state of aragonite (ΩAr) and calcite (ΩCa) using measured total alkalinity and pCO2. In the Ross Sea and south of the Polar Front, variability in carbonate saturation state (Ω) is mainly driven by algal photosynthesis. Freshwater dilution and calcification have minimal influence on Ω variability. We estimate an early spring surface water ΩAr value of ~ 1.2 for the Ross Sea using a total alkalinity–salinity relationship and historical pCO2 measurements. Our results suggest that the Ross Sea is not likely to become undersaturated with respect to aragonite until the year 2070.

Large-scale distribution of coccolithophores and Parmales in the surface waters of the Atlantic Ocean

2016 ◽  
Vol 98 (3) ◽  
pp. 567-579 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qingshan Luan ◽  
Jianqiang Sun ◽  
Jun Wang
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Close Association ◽  
Polar Front ◽  
Falkland Islands ◽  
North East ◽  
Algal Groups ◽  
Latitudinal Patterns

Coccolithophores and Parmales are important functional groups of calcified and siliceous marine nanophytoplankton. Large-scale biogeographic distributions of the two groups were investigated based on 71 samples that were collected in the Atlantic Ocean. Using a scanning electron microscope, a total of 48 taxa of coccolithophores and eight taxa of Parmales were recorded, with Emiliania huxleyi, Tetraparma pelagica and Triparma strigata as the predominant forms. The highest abundances of coccolithophores (376 × 103 cells l−1) and Parmales (624 × 103 cells l−1) were observed in waters north-east of the Falkland Islands and the South Georgia Island, in close association with the Subantarctic Front and Polar Front, respectively. Three major biogeographic assemblages, i.e. the Falkland Shelf Assemblage, the Southern Ocean Assemblage and the Atlantic Ocean Assemblage, were revealed in cluster analysis. Additionally, canonical correspondence analysis indicated that temperature significantly affects the latitudinal patterns of the two algal groups. High abundances of Parmales were closely coupled with those of E. huxleyi in waters of the Southern Ocean with low temperature (<10°C). However, the number of coccolithophore species, along with the Shannon–Weaver diversity, significantly increased with elevated temperature, suggesting more diverse assemblages in tropical waters.

scholarly journals Chemometric perspectives on plankton community responses to natural iron fertilization over and downstream of the Kerguelen Plateau in the Southern Ocean

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 13841-13903 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. W. Trull ◽  
D. M. Davies ◽  
F. Dehairs ◽  
A.-J. Cavagna ◽  
M. Lasbleiz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
High Growth ◽  
Large Cell ◽  
Polar Front ◽  
Community Responses ◽  
Kerguelen Plateau ◽  
Austral Spring ◽  
Particulate Nitrogen ◽  
Natural Iron

Abstract. We examined phytoplankton community responses to natural iron fertilisation at 32 sites over and downstream from the Kerguelen Plateau in the Southern Ocean during the austral spring bloom in October–November 2011. Community structure was estimated from chemical and isotopic measurements (particulate organic carbon POC, 13C-POC, particulate nitrogen PN, 15N-PN, and biogenic silica BSi) on size-fractionated samples from surface waters (300, 210, 50, 20, 5, and 1 μm fractions). Higher values of 13C-POC (vs. co-located 13C-DIC source values) were taken as indicative of faster growth rates, and higher values of 15N-PN (vs. co-located 15N-NO3 source values) as indicative of greater nitrate use. Community responses varied in relation to both regional circulation and the advance of the bloom. Iron fertilised waters over the plateau developed dominance by very large diatoms (50–210 μm) with high BSi / POC ratios, high growth rates, and significant ammonium recycling as biomass built up. In contrast, downstream Polar Frontal waters with similar or higher iron supply were dominated by smaller diatoms (20–50 μm) and exhibited greater ammonium recycling. Stations in a deep water bathymetrically trapped recirculation south of the Polar Front with lower iron levels showed the large cell dominance observed on the plateau, but much less biomass. Comparison of these communities to surface water nitrate (and silicate) depletions as a proxy for export shows that the low biomass recirculation feature exported similar amounts of nitrogen to the high biomass blooms over the plateau and north of the Polar Front. This suggests that trophodynamic and export responses differed between regions with persistent low levels vs. punctual high levels of iron fertilisation.

scholarly journals Seasonal evolution of net and regenerated silica production around a natural Fe-fertilized area in the Southern Ocean estimated from Si isotopic approaches

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 6329-6381 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Closset ◽  
M. Lasbleiz ◽  
K. Leblanc ◽  
B. Quéguiner ◽  
A.-J. Cavagna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Silicic Acid ◽  
Biogenic Silica ◽  
Reference Station ◽  
Nitrogen Recycling ◽  
Kerguelen Plateau ◽  
Austral Spring ◽  
Seasonal Evolution ◽  
Silicon Uptake ◽  
Long Time

Abstract. A massive diatom-bloom is observed each year in the surface waters of the naturally Fe fertilized Kerguelen Plateau (Southern Ocean). We measured biogenic silica production and dissolution fluxes in the mixed layer in the vicinity of the Kerguelen Plateau during austral spring 2011 (KEOPS-2 cruise). We compare results from a High-Nutrient Low-Chlorophyll reference station and stations with different degrees of iron enrichment and bloom conditions. Above the Plateau biogenic silica production fluxes are among the highest reported so far in the Southern Ocean (up to 47.9 mmol m−2 d−1). Although significant (10.2 mmol m−2 d−1 in average), silica dissolution rates were generally much lower than production rates. Uptake ratios (Si:C and Si:N) confirm that diatoms strongly dominate the primary production in this area. At the bloom onset, decreasing dissolution to production ratios (D:P) indicate that the remineralization of silica could sustained most of the low silicon uptake and that the system progressively shifts toward a silica production regime which must be mainly supported by new source of silicic acid. Moreover, by comparing results from the two KEOPS-expeditions (spring 2011 and summer 2005), we suggest that there is a seasonal evolution on the processes decoupling Si and N cycles in the area. Indeed, the consumption of H4SiO4 standing stocks occurs only during the growing stage of the bloom when strong net silica production is observed, contributing to a higher H4SiO4 depletion relative to NO3−. Then, the decoupling between H4SiO4 and NO3− is mainly controlled by the more efficient nitrogen recycling relative to Si. Gross-Si:N uptake ratios were higher in the Fe-rich regions compared to the HNLC area, likely due to different diatoms communities. This suggests that the diatom responses to natural Fe fertilization are more complex than previously thought, and that natural iron fertilization over long time scales does not necessarily decrease Si:N uptake ratios as suggested by the Silicic Acid Leakage Hypothesis. Finally, we propose the first seasonal estimate of Si-biogeochemical budget above the Kerguelen Plateau based on direct measurements. This study points out that naturally iron fertilized areas of the Southern Ocean could sustain very high regimes of biogenic silica production, similar to those observed in highly productive upwelling systems.

scholarly journals Carbonate saturation state of surface waters in the Ross Sea and Southern Ocean: controls and implications for the onset of aragonite undersaturation

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (23) ◽  
pp. 6881-6896 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. B. DeJong ◽  
R. B. Dunbar ◽  
D. Mucciarone ◽  
D. A. Koweek
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Ross Sea ◽  
Polar Front ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Total Alkalinity ◽  
Saturation State ◽  
System Data ◽  
Algal Photosynthesis ◽  
Carbon System

Abstract. Predicting when surface waters of the Ross Sea and Southern Ocean will become undersaturated with respect to biogenic carbonate minerals is challenging in part due to the lack of baseline high-resolution carbon system data. Here we present ~ 1700 surface total alkalinity measurements from the Ross Sea and along a transect between the Ross Sea and southern Chile from the austral autumn (February–March 2013). We calculate the saturation state of aragonite (ΩAr) and calcite (Ω Ca) using measured total alkalinity and pCO2. In the Ross Sea and south of the Polar Front, variability in carbonate saturation state (Ω) is mainly driven by algal photosynthesis. Freshwater dilution and calcification have minimal influence on Ω variability. We estimate an early spring surface water ΩAr value of ~ 1.2 for the Ross Sea using a total alkalinity–salinity relationship and historical pCO2 measurements. Our results suggest that the Ross Sea is not likely to become undersaturated with respect to aragonite until the year 2070.

scholarly journals Chemometric perspectives on plankton community responses to natural iron fertilisation over and downstream of the Kerguelen Plateau in the Southern Ocean

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1029-1056 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. W. Trull ◽  
D. M. Davies ◽  
F. Dehairs ◽  
A.-J. Cavagna ◽  
M. Lasbleiz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Dissolved Inorganic Carbon ◽  
High Growth ◽  
Polar Front ◽  
Community Responses ◽  
Kerguelen Plateau ◽  
Austral Spring ◽  
Particulate Nitrogen ◽  
Natural Iron

Abstract. We examined phytoplankton community responses to natural iron fertilisation at 32 sites over and downstream from the Kerguelen Plateau in the Southern Ocean during the austral spring bloom in October–November 2011. The community structure was estimated from chemical and isotopic measurements (particulate organic carbon – POC; 13C-POC; particulate nitrogen – PN; 15N-PN; and biogenic silica – BSi) on size-fractionated samples from surface waters (300, 210, 50, 20, 5, and 1 μm fractions). Higher values of 13C-POC (vs. co-located 13C values for dissolved inorganic carbon – DIC) were taken as indicative of faster growth rates and higher values of 15N-PN (vs. co-located 15N-NO3 source values) as indicative of greater nitrate use (rather than ammonium use, i.e. higher f ratios). Community responses varied in relation to both regional circulation and the advance of the bloom. Iron-fertilised waters over the plateau developed dominance by very large diatoms (50–210 μm) with high BSi / POC ratios, high growth rates, and significant ammonium recycling (lower f ratios) as biomass built up. In contrast, downstream polar frontal waters with a similar or higher iron supply were dominated by smaller diatoms (20–50 μm) and exhibited greater ammonium recycling. Stations in a deep-water bathymetrically trapped recirculation south of the polar front with lower iron levels showed the large-cell dominance observed on the plateau but much less biomass. Comparison of these communities to surface water nitrate (and silicate) depletions as a proxy for export shows that the low-biomass recirculation feature had exported similar amounts of nitrogen to the high-biomass blooms over the plateau and north of the polar front. This suggests that early spring trophodynamic and export responses differed between regions with persistent low levels vs. intermittent high levels of iron fertilisation.

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