Although iron and light are understood to regulate the Southern Ocean biological carbon pump, observations have also indicated a possible role for manganese. Low concentrations in Southern Ocean surface waters suggest manganese limitation is possible, but its spatial extent remains poorly constrained and direct manganese limitation of the marine carbon cycle has been neglected by ocean models. Here, using available observations, we develop a new global biogeochemical model and find that phytoplankton in over half of the Southern Ocean cannot attain maximal growth rates because of manganese deficiency. Manganese limitation is most extensive in austral spring and depends on phytoplankton traits related to the size of photosynthetic antennae and the inhibition of manganese uptake by high zinc concentrations in Antarctic waters. Importantly, manganese limitation expands under the increased iron supply of past glacial periods, reducing the response of the biological carbon pump. Overall, these model experiments describe a mosaic of controls on Southern Ocean productivity that emerge from the interplay of light, iron, manganese and zinc, shaping the evolution of Antarctic phytoplankton since the opening of the Drake Passage.
Hawco, Nicholas J., et al. "Manganese Limitation of Phytoplankton Physiology and Productivity in the Southern Ocean." Global Biogeochemical Cycles, vol. 36, no. 11, Oct. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022gb007382
Hawco, Nicholas J., Tagliabue, Alessandro, & Twining, Benjamin S. (2022). Manganese Limitation of Phytoplankton Physiology and Productivity in the Southern Ocean. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 36(11). https://doi.org/10.1029/2022gb007382
Hawco, Nicholas J., Tagliabue, Alessandro, and Twining, Benjamin S., "Manganese Limitation of Phytoplankton Physiology and Productivity in the Southern Ocean," Global Biogeochemical Cycles 36, no. 11 (2022), https://doi.org/10.1029/2022gb007382
@article{osti_2470066,
author = {Hawco, Nicholas J. and Tagliabue, Alessandro and Twining, Benjamin S.},
title = {Manganese Limitation of Phytoplankton Physiology and Productivity in the Southern Ocean},
annote = {Although iron and light are understood to regulate the Southern Ocean biological carbon pump, observations have also indicated a possible role for manganese. Low concentrations in Southern Ocean surface waters suggest manganese limitation is possible, but its spatial extent remains poorly constrained and direct manganese limitation of the marine carbon cycle has been neglected by ocean models. Here, using available observations, we develop a new global biogeochemical model and find that phytoplankton in over half of the Southern Ocean cannot attain maximal growth rates because of manganese deficiency. Manganese limitation is most extensive in austral spring and depends on phytoplankton traits related to the size of photosynthetic antennae and the inhibition of manganese uptake by high zinc concentrations in Antarctic waters. Importantly, manganese limitation expands under the increased iron supply of past glacial periods, reducing the response of the biological carbon pump. Overall, these model experiments describe a mosaic of controls on Southern Ocean productivity that emerge from the interplay of light, iron, manganese and zinc, shaping the evolution of Antarctic phytoplankton since the opening of the Drake Passage.},
doi = {10.1029/2022gb007382},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/2470066},
journal = {Global Biogeochemical Cycles},
issn = {ISSN 0886-6236},
number = {11},
volume = {36},
place = {United States},
publisher = {American Geophysical Union (AGU)},
year = {2022},
month = {10}}
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Advanced Photon Source (APS)
Sponsoring Organization:
H2020 European Research Council; National Science Foundation (NSF); Simons Foundation; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Scientific User Facilities (SUF)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-06CH11357
OSTI ID:
2470066
Journal Information:
Global Biogeochemical Cycles, Journal Name: Global Biogeochemical Cycles Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 36; ISSN 0886-6236
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, Vol. 374, Issue 2081https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2015.0290
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, Vol. 374, Issue 2081https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2015.0291