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The decline and fate of an iron-induced subarctic phytoplankton bloom

Author

Listed:
  • Philip W. Boyd

    (University of Otago)

  • Cliff S. Law

    (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research)

  • C.S. Wong

    (Institute of Ocean Sciences)

  • Yukihiro Nojiri

    (National Institute for Environmental Studies)

  • Atsushi Tsuda

    (University of Tokyo)

  • Maurice Levasseur

    (University of Laval)

  • Shigenobu Takeda

    (University of Tokyo)

  • Richard Rivkin

    (Memorial University of Newfoundland)

  • Paul J. Harrison

    (University of British Columbia
    Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay)

  • Robert Strzepek

    (University of Otago)

  • Jim Gower

    (Institute of Ocean Sciences)

  • R. Mike McKay

    (Bowling Green State University)

  • Edward Abraham

    (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research)

  • Mike Arychuk

    (Institute of Ocean Sciences)

  • Janet Barwell-Clarke

    (Institute of Ocean Sciences)

  • William Crawford

    (Institute of Ocean Sciences)

  • David Crawford

    (Institute of Ocean Sciences)

  • Michelle Hale

    (Memorial University of Newfoundland)

  • Koh Harada

    (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology)

  • Keith Johnson

    (Institute of Ocean Sciences)

  • Hiroshi Kiyosawa

    (Marine Biological Research Institute of Japan)

  • Isao Kudo

    (Hokkaido University)

  • Adrian Marchetti

    (University of British Columbia)

  • William Miller

    (Dalhousie University, Department of Oceanography)

  • Joe Needoba

    (University of British Columbia)

  • Jun Nishioka

    (Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry)

  • Hiroshi Ogawa

    (Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo)

  • John Page

    (Institute of Ocean Sciences)

  • Marie Robert

    (Institute of Ocean Sciences)

  • Hiroaki Saito

    (Tohoku National Fisheries Research Institute)

  • Akash Sastri

    (University of Victoria)

  • Nelson Sherry

    (University of British Columbia)

  • Tim Soutar

    (Institute of Ocean Sciences)

  • Nes Sutherland

    (Institute of Ocean Sciences)

  • Yosuke Taira

    (Hokkaido University)

  • Frank Whitney

    (Institute of Ocean Sciences)

  • Shau-King Emmy Wong

    (Institute of Ocean Sciences)

  • Takeshi Yoshimura

    (Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry)

Abstract

Iron supply has a key role in stimulating phytoplankton blooms in high-nitrate low-chlorophyll oceanic waters1,2,3,4,5. However, the fate of the carbon fixed by these blooms, and how efficiently it is exported into the ocean's interior, remains largely unknown1,2,3,4,5. Here we report on the decline and fate of an iron-stimulated diatom bloom in the Gulf of Alaska. The bloom terminated on day 18, following the depletion of iron and then silicic acid, after which mixed-layer particulate organic carbon (POC) concentrations declined over six days. Increased particulate silica export via sinking diatoms was recorded in sediment traps at depths between 50 and 125 m from day 21, yet increased POC export was not evident until day 24. Only a small proportion of the mixed-layer POC was intercepted by the traps, with more than half of the mixed-layer POC deficit attributable to bacterial remineralization and mesozooplankton grazing. The depletion of silicic acid and the inefficient transfer of iron-increased POC below the permanent thermocline have major implications both for the biogeochemical interpretation of times of greater iron supply in the geological past6,7, and also for proposed geo-engineering schemes to increase oceanic carbon sequestration3,8.

Suggested Citation

  • Philip W. Boyd & Cliff S. Law & C.S. Wong & Yukihiro Nojiri & Atsushi Tsuda & Maurice Levasseur & Shigenobu Takeda & Richard Rivkin & Paul J. Harrison & Robert Strzepek & Jim Gower & R. Mike McKay & E, 2004. "The decline and fate of an iron-induced subarctic phytoplankton bloom," Nature, Nature, vol. 428(6982), pages 549-553, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:428:y:2004:i:6982:d:10.1038_nature02437
    DOI: 10.1038/nature02437
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    Cited by:

    1. Portalier, Sébastien M.J. & Cherif, Mehdi & Zhang, Lai & Fussmann, Gregor F. & Loreau, Michel, 2016. "Size-related effects of physical factors on phytoplankton communities," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 323(C), pages 41-50.
    2. Fujii, Masahiko & Yamanaka, Yasuhiro & Nojiri, Yukihiro & Kishi, Michio J. & Chai, Fei, 2007. "Comparison of seasonal characteristics in biogeochemistry among the subarctic North Pacific stations described with a NEMURO-based marine ecosystem model," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 202(1), pages 52-67.

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