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Predominance of heavily calcified coccolithophores at low CaCO3 saturation during winter in the Bay of Biscay

Predominance of heavily calcified coccolithophores at low CaCO3 saturation during winter in the Bay of Biscay
Predominance of heavily calcified coccolithophores at low CaCO3 saturation during winter in the Bay of Biscay
calcifiers, their possible susceptibility to ocean acidification is of major concern. Laboratory studies at enhanced pCO2 levels have produced divergent results without overall consensus. However, it has been predicted from these studies that, although calcification may not be depressed in all species, acidification will produce “a transition in dominance from more to less heavily calcified coccolithophores” [Ridgwell A, et al., (2009) Biogeosciences 6:2611–2623]. A recent observational study [Beaufort L, et al., (2011) Nature 476:80–83] also suggested that coccolithophores are less calcified in more acidic conditions. We present the results of a large observational study of coccolithophore morphology in the Bay of Biscay. Samples were collected once a month for over a year, along a 1,000-km-long transect. Our data clearly show that there is a pronounced seasonality in the morphotypes of Emiliania huxleyi, the most abundant coccolithophore species. Whereas pH and CaCO3 saturation are lowest in winter, the E. huxleyi population shifts from <10% (summer) to >90% (winter) of the heavily calcified form. However, it is unlikely that the shifts in carbonate chemistry alone caused the morphotype shift. Our finding that the most heavily calcified morphotype dominates when conditions are most acidic is contrary to the earlier predictions and raises further questions about the fate of coccolithophores in a high-CO2 world.
phytoplankton, north atlantic, climate change
0027-8424
8845-8849
Smith, H.E.K.
194d3073-6cb8-4888-b1e3-742f233d052a
Tyrrell, T.
6808411d-c9cf-47a3-88b6-c7c294f2d114
Charalampopoulou, A.
edaaa0e5-b045-4d54-8965-213c4c6079f2
Dumousseaud, C.
31cc4879-0d45-4674-8eba-93105ee25c2e
Legge, O.J.
02b60b8e-ce3b-493b-bf68-2ec35d93769d
Birchenough, S.
5ff76e5b-9e17-4fb0-b83e-016e0078c10b
Pettit, LR.
a9c64912-6152-49c2-b294-d6c142a2d250
Garley, R.
d23dffe7-041d-460b-b06a-ff103da9d388
Hartman, S.E.
2f74a439-395a-4ee7-89a2-eff4cc8d9481
Hartman, M.C.
cdd63b60-f89a-4ef8-842d-7803f8213c18
Sagoo, N.
80a5f4a7-bdf7-45ee-9328-39baad77c8d0
Daniels, C.J.
e4a51f9d-efe6-413a-8d3f-3f1eda5ce79f
Achterberg, E.P.
685ce961-8c45-4503-9f03-50f6561202b9
Hydes, D.J.
ac7371d4-c2b9-4926-bb77-ce58480ecff7
Smith, H.E.K.
194d3073-6cb8-4888-b1e3-742f233d052a
Tyrrell, T.
6808411d-c9cf-47a3-88b6-c7c294f2d114
Charalampopoulou, A.
edaaa0e5-b045-4d54-8965-213c4c6079f2
Dumousseaud, C.
31cc4879-0d45-4674-8eba-93105ee25c2e
Legge, O.J.
02b60b8e-ce3b-493b-bf68-2ec35d93769d
Birchenough, S.
5ff76e5b-9e17-4fb0-b83e-016e0078c10b
Pettit, LR.
a9c64912-6152-49c2-b294-d6c142a2d250
Garley, R.
d23dffe7-041d-460b-b06a-ff103da9d388
Hartman, S.E.
2f74a439-395a-4ee7-89a2-eff4cc8d9481
Hartman, M.C.
cdd63b60-f89a-4ef8-842d-7803f8213c18
Sagoo, N.
80a5f4a7-bdf7-45ee-9328-39baad77c8d0
Daniels, C.J.
e4a51f9d-efe6-413a-8d3f-3f1eda5ce79f
Achterberg, E.P.
685ce961-8c45-4503-9f03-50f6561202b9
Hydes, D.J.
ac7371d4-c2b9-4926-bb77-ce58480ecff7

Smith, H.E.K., Tyrrell, T., Charalampopoulou, A., Dumousseaud, C., Legge, O.J., Birchenough, S., Pettit, LR., Garley, R., Hartman, S.E., Hartman, M.C., Sagoo, N., Daniels, C.J., Achterberg, E.P. and Hydes, D.J. (2012) Predominance of heavily calcified coccolithophores at low CaCO3 saturation during winter in the Bay of Biscay. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109 (23), 8845-8849. (doi:10.1073/pnas.1117508109).

Record type: Article

Abstract

calcifiers, their possible susceptibility to ocean acidification is of major concern. Laboratory studies at enhanced pCO2 levels have produced divergent results without overall consensus. However, it has been predicted from these studies that, although calcification may not be depressed in all species, acidification will produce “a transition in dominance from more to less heavily calcified coccolithophores” [Ridgwell A, et al., (2009) Biogeosciences 6:2611–2623]. A recent observational study [Beaufort L, et al., (2011) Nature 476:80–83] also suggested that coccolithophores are less calcified in more acidic conditions. We present the results of a large observational study of coccolithophore morphology in the Bay of Biscay. Samples were collected once a month for over a year, along a 1,000-km-long transect. Our data clearly show that there is a pronounced seasonality in the morphotypes of Emiliania huxleyi, the most abundant coccolithophore species. Whereas pH and CaCO3 saturation are lowest in winter, the E. huxleyi population shifts from <10% (summer) to >90% (winter) of the heavily calcified form. However, it is unlikely that the shifts in carbonate chemistry alone caused the morphotype shift. Our finding that the most heavily calcified morphotype dominates when conditions are most acidic is contrary to the earlier predictions and raises further questions about the fate of coccolithophores in a high-CO2 world.

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More information

Published date: 21 May 2012
Keywords: phytoplankton, north atlantic, climate change
Organisations: Marine Biogeochemistry, Ocean Biochemistry & Ecosystems

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 340765
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/340765
ISSN: 0027-8424
PURE UUID: 04e65a94-a8f7-44cc-be46-c4a9a004f223
ORCID for T. Tyrrell: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-1002-1716
ORCID for C. Dumousseaud: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-5995-902X

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Date deposited: 02 Jul 2012 14:12
Last modified: 25 Jun 2024 01:42

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Contributors

Author: H.E.K. Smith
Author: T. Tyrrell ORCID iD
Author: A. Charalampopoulou
Author: C. Dumousseaud ORCID iD
Author: O.J. Legge
Author: S. Birchenough
Author: LR. Pettit
Author: R. Garley
Author: S.E. Hartman
Author: M.C. Hartman
Author: N. Sagoo
Author: C.J. Daniels
Author: E.P. Achterberg
Author: D.J. Hydes

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