Effects of iron, manganese, copper, and zinc enrichments on productivity and biomass in the subarctic Pacific

Journal Article · Sun Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1991 · Limnology and Oceanography; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.4319/lo.1991.36.8.1851· OSTI ID:7222148

Coale, K H ^[1]

---

1. Moss Landing Marine Labs., CA (United States)

Natural plankton populations from subarctic Pacific surface waters were incubated in 7-d experiments with added concentrations of Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn. Small additions of metals were used to simulate natural perturbations in metal concentrations potentially experienced by marine plankton. Trace metal concentrations, phytoplankton productivity, Chl a, and the species composition of phytoplankton and microzooplankton were measured over the course of the experiment. Although the controls indicated little growth, increases in phytoplankton productivity, Chl a, and cell densities were dramatic after the addition of 0.89 nM Fe, indicating that it may limit the rates of algal production in these waters. Similar increases were observed in experiments with 3.9 nM Cu added. The Cu effect is attributed to a decrease in the grazing activities of the microzooplankton and increases in the rates of production. Mn enrichment had its greatest effect on diatom biomass, whereas Zn enrichment had its greatest effect on other autofluorescent organisms. The extent of trace metal adsorption onto carboy walls was also evaluated. These results imply that natural systems may be affected as follows: natural levels of Fe and Cu may influence phytoplankton productivity and trophic structure in open-ocean, high-nutrient, low-biomass systems; rates of net production are not limited by one micronutrient alone.

• OSTI ID: 7222148
• Journal Information: Limnology and Oceanography; (United States), Vol. 36:8; ISSN 0024-3590
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
COPPER
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
IRON
MANGANESE
PACIFIC OCEAN
BIOGEOCHEMISTRY
PHYTOPLANKTON
PRODUCTIVITY
ZINC
BIOMASS
CARBON SINKS
CHLOROPHYLL
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
NUTRIENTS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHEMISTRY
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
GEOCHEMISTRY
HETEROCYCLIC ACIDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
METALS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYTOCHROMES
PIGMENTS
PLANKTON
PLANTS
PORPHYRINS
PROTEINS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SEAS
SINKS
SURFACE WATERS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
540320* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
290301 - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment
Health
& Safety- Regional & Global Environmental Aspects- (1992-)