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Iron limits primary productivity during spring bloom development in the central North Atlantic

Iron limits primary productivity during spring bloom development in the central North Atlantic
Iron limits primary productivity during spring bloom development in the central North Atlantic
We present in situ biophysical measurements and bioassay experiments that demonstrate iron limitation of primary productivity during the spring bloom in the central North Atlantic. Mass balance calculations indicate that nitrate drawdown is iron (Fe)-limited and that aeolian Fe supply to this region cannot support maximal phytoplankton growth during the bloom. Using a simple simulation model, we show that relief of Fe limitation during the spring bloom can increase nitrate drawdown and, hence, new primary production, by 70%. We conclude that the episodic nature of iron supplied by dust deposition is an important factor controlling the dynamics of the spring bloom. From this, we hypothesize that variability in the timing and magnitude of the spring bloom in response to aeolian Fe supply will affect carbon drawdown and food web dynamics in the central North Atlantic.
1354-1013
626-634
Moore, C. Mark
7ec80b7b-bedc-4dd5-8924-0f5d01927b12
Mills, Matthew M.
eecbae85-0ebf-4d17-beb6-84b8862e7cf9
Milne, Angela
39b44fbd-8f5e-40ea-80c9-244c20998020
Langlois, Rebecca
f3ac6c56-a53a-404a-8a0f-f84be5e8669b
Achterberg, Eric P.
685ce961-8c45-4503-9f03-50f6561202b9
Lochte, Karin
202236a4-d2c6-4fb7-94f3-8dc9e925297c
Geider, Richard J.
f1432d5c-8c1d-48ab-ac52-e81ee5ce7f42
La Roche, Julie
0029e377-2bba-42a9-9c08-21f6b7efa1c9
Moore, C. Mark
7ec80b7b-bedc-4dd5-8924-0f5d01927b12
Mills, Matthew M.
eecbae85-0ebf-4d17-beb6-84b8862e7cf9
Milne, Angela
39b44fbd-8f5e-40ea-80c9-244c20998020
Langlois, Rebecca
f3ac6c56-a53a-404a-8a0f-f84be5e8669b
Achterberg, Eric P.
685ce961-8c45-4503-9f03-50f6561202b9
Lochte, Karin
202236a4-d2c6-4fb7-94f3-8dc9e925297c
Geider, Richard J.
f1432d5c-8c1d-48ab-ac52-e81ee5ce7f42
La Roche, Julie
0029e377-2bba-42a9-9c08-21f6b7efa1c9

Moore, C. Mark, Mills, Matthew M., Milne, Angela, Langlois, Rebecca, Achterberg, Eric P., Lochte, Karin, Geider, Richard J. and La Roche, Julie (2006) Iron limits primary productivity during spring bloom development in the central North Atlantic. Global Change Biology, 12 (4), 626-634. (doi:10.1111/j.1365-2486.2006.01122.x).

Record type: Article

Abstract

We present in situ biophysical measurements and bioassay experiments that demonstrate iron limitation of primary productivity during the spring bloom in the central North Atlantic. Mass balance calculations indicate that nitrate drawdown is iron (Fe)-limited and that aeolian Fe supply to this region cannot support maximal phytoplankton growth during the bloom. Using a simple simulation model, we show that relief of Fe limitation during the spring bloom can increase nitrate drawdown and, hence, new primary production, by 70%. We conclude that the episodic nature of iron supplied by dust deposition is an important factor controlling the dynamics of the spring bloom. From this, we hypothesize that variability in the timing and magnitude of the spring bloom in response to aeolian Fe supply will affect carbon drawdown and food web dynamics in the central North Atlantic.

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Published date: April 2006

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 38083
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/38083
ISSN: 1354-1013
PURE UUID: 157c0b2d-7fc9-4a09-8b90-ce2dd19e83ba
ORCID for C. Mark Moore: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-9541-6046

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Date deposited: 01 Jun 2006
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 03:10

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Contributors

Author: C. Mark Moore ORCID iD
Author: Matthew M. Mills
Author: Angela Milne
Author: Rebecca Langlois
Author: Karin Lochte
Author: Richard J. Geider
Author: Julie La Roche

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