skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Metal enrichment experiments in the Weddell-Scotia Seas: Effects of iron and manganese on various communities

Abstract

During the European Polarstern Study (EPOS 1988/1989) in the Weddell and Scotia Seas, five series of metal enrichment experiments were carried out with natural plankton communities under ultraclean conditions. Despite a clear stimulation of growth by the addition of Fe, control bottles also showed rapid buildup of Chl a and complete utilization of a major nutrient within 2 weeks, indicating nonlimiting ambient Fe levels. Effects of Mn additions were less pronounced or absent, whereas extra additions of Zn and Cu in one experiment showed little or no effect. The species composition of the plankton community, monitored by HPLC pigment analysis and microscopic observations, changed in favor of diatoms when Fe was added. The addition of Fe also caused an increase in microzooplankton densities and concentrations of pigment breakdown products. However, metal-mediated shifts in the plankton community were minor compared to major changes resulting from incubation. Changes were most pronounced in experiments where microzooplankton was strongly developed, presumably as a result of excluding mesozooplankton from the bottles. Fe had an impact on plankton growth and species composition, but other factors seem to responsible for keeping phytoplankton productivity far from its potential in these Antarctic waters.

Authors:
; ; ;  [1]
  1. Netherlands Inst. for Sea Research, Den Burg (Netherlands)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
7222145
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Limnology and Oceanography; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 36:8; Journal ID: ISSN 0024-3590
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
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; PHYTOPLANKTON; PRODUCTIVITY; WEDDELL SEA; BIOGEOCHEMISTRY; ZINC; CARBON SINKS; CHLOROPHYLL; ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION; LIQUID COLUMN CHROMATOGRAPHY; NUTRIENTS; AQUATIC ORGANISMS; ATLANTIC OCEAN; CARBOXYLIC ACIDS; CHEMISTRY; CHROMATOGRAPHY; ELEMENTS; GEOCHEMISTRY; HETEROCYCLIC ACIDS; HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS; METALS; ORGANIC ACIDS; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS; PHYTOCHROMES; PIGMENTS; PLANKTON; PLANTS; PORPHYRINS; PROTEINS; SEAS; SEPARATION PROCESSES; 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-)

Citation Formats

Buma, A G.J., Barr, H J.W. de, Nolting, R F, and Bennekom, A.J. van. Metal enrichment experiments in the Weddell-Scotia Seas: Effects of iron and manganese on various communities. United States: N. p., 1991. Web. doi:10.4319/lo.1991.36.8.1865.
Buma, A G.J., Barr, H J.W. de, Nolting, R F, & Bennekom, A.J. van. Metal enrichment experiments in the Weddell-Scotia Seas: Effects of iron and manganese on various communities. United States. https://doi.org/10.4319/lo.1991.36.8.1865
Buma, A G.J., Barr, H J.W. de, Nolting, R F, and Bennekom, A.J. van. 1991. "Metal enrichment experiments in the Weddell-Scotia Seas: Effects of iron and manganese on various communities". United States. https://doi.org/10.4319/lo.1991.36.8.1865.
@article{osti_7222145,
title = {Metal enrichment experiments in the Weddell-Scotia Seas: Effects of iron and manganese on various communities},
author = {Buma, A G.J. and Barr, H J.W. de and Nolting, R F and Bennekom, A.J. van},
abstractNote = {During the European Polarstern Study (EPOS 1988/1989) in the Weddell and Scotia Seas, five series of metal enrichment experiments were carried out with natural plankton communities under ultraclean conditions. Despite a clear stimulation of growth by the addition of Fe, control bottles also showed rapid buildup of Chl a and complete utilization of a major nutrient within 2 weeks, indicating nonlimiting ambient Fe levels. Effects of Mn additions were less pronounced or absent, whereas extra additions of Zn and Cu in one experiment showed little or no effect. The species composition of the plankton community, monitored by HPLC pigment analysis and microscopic observations, changed in favor of diatoms when Fe was added. The addition of Fe also caused an increase in microzooplankton densities and concentrations of pigment breakdown products. However, metal-mediated shifts in the plankton community were minor compared to major changes resulting from incubation. Changes were most pronounced in experiments where microzooplankton was strongly developed, presumably as a result of excluding mesozooplankton from the bottles. Fe had an impact on plankton growth and species composition, but other factors seem to responsible for keeping phytoplankton productivity far from its potential in these Antarctic waters.},
doi = {10.4319/lo.1991.36.8.1865},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/7222145}, journal = {Limnology and Oceanography; (United States)},
issn = {0024-3590},
number = ,
volume = 36:8,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1991},
month = {Sun Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1991}
}