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Deep carbon export from a Southern Ocean iron-fertilized diatom bloom

Author

Listed:
  • Victor Smetacek

    (Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
    National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa 403 004, India)

  • Christine Klaas

    (Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany)

  • Volker H. Strass

    (Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany)

  • Philipp Assmy

    (Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
    Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Hjalmar Johansens Gate 14, 9296 Tromsø, Norway)

  • Marina Montresor

    (Ecology and Evolution of Plankton, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn)

  • Boris Cisewski

    (Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
    Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute, Institute of Sea Fisheries, Palmaille 9, 22767 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Nicolas Savoye

    (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
    Univ. Bordeaux/CNRS, EPOC, UMR 5805, Station Marine d’Arcachon, 2 rue du Professeur Jolyet, F-33120 Arcachon, France)

  • Adrian Webb

    (University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701 Cape Town, South Africa)

  • Francesco d’Ovidio

    (LOCEAN-IPSL, CNRS/UPMC/IRD/MNHN, 4 Place Jussieu, 75252 Paris Cedex 5, France)

  • Jesús M. Arrieta

    (Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PO Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, The Netherlands
    Instituto Mediterraneo de Estudios Avanzados, CSIC-UIB, Miquel Marques 21, 07190 Esporles, Mallorca, Spain)

  • Ulrich Bathmann

    (Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
    Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde, Seestraße 15, 18119 Rostock, Germany)

  • Richard Bellerby

    (Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, University of Bergen, Allegaten 55, N-5007 Bergen, Norway
    Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Thormøhlensgate 53 D, 5006 Bergen, Norway)

  • Gry Mine Berg

    (Stanford University)

  • Peter Croot

    (Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany
    Earth and Ocean Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland, Galway, Quadrangle Building, University Road)

  • Santiago Gonzalez

    (Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PO Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, The Netherlands)

  • Joachim Henjes

    (Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
    Phytolutions GmbH, Campus Ring 1)

  • Gerhard J. Herndl

    (Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PO Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, The Netherlands
    University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria)

  • Linn J. Hoffmann

    (Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany)

  • Harry Leach

    (School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Room 209 Nicholson Building, 4 Brownlow Street, Liverpool L69 3GP, UK)

  • Martin Losch

    (Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany)

  • Matthew M. Mills

    (Stanford University)

  • Craig Neill

    (Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, University of Bergen, Allegaten 55, N-5007 Bergen, Norway
    Wealth from Oceans Flagship, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Castray Esplanade, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia)

  • Ilka Peeken

    (Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
    MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Leobener Strasse, D-28359 Bremen, Germany)

  • Rüdiger Röttgers

    (Institute for Coastal Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Center for Materials and Coastal Research, Max-Planck-Strasse 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany)

  • Oliver Sachs

    (Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
    Eberhard & Partner AG, General Guisan Strasse 2, 5000 Arau, Switzerland)

  • Eberhard Sauter

    (Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany)

  • Maike M. Schmidt

    (Centre for Biomolecular Interactions Bremen, FB 2, University of Bremen, Postfach 33 04 40, 28359 Bremen, Germany)

  • Jill Schwarz

    (Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
    School of Marine Science & Engineering, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK)

  • Anja Terbrüggen

    (Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany)

  • Dieter Wolf-Gladrow

    (Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany)

Abstract

Fertilization of the ocean by adding iron compounds has induced diatom-dominated phytoplankton blooms accompanied by considerable carbon dioxide drawdown in the ocean surface layer. However, because the fate of bloom biomass could not be adequately resolved in these experiments, the timescales of carbon sequestration from the atmosphere are uncertain. Here we report the results of a five-week experiment carried out in the closed core of a vertically coherent, mesoscale eddy of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, during which we tracked sinking particles from the surface to the deep-sea floor. A large diatom bloom peaked in the fourth week after fertilization. This was followed by mass mortality of several diatom species that formed rapidly sinking, mucilaginous aggregates of entangled cells and chains. Taken together, multiple lines of evidence—although each with important uncertainties—lead us to conclude that at least half the bloom biomass sank far below a depth of 1,000 metres and that a substantial portion is likely to have reached the sea floor. Thus, iron-fertilized diatom blooms may sequester carbon for timescales of centuries in ocean bottom water and for longer in the sediments.

Suggested Citation

  • Victor Smetacek & Christine Klaas & Volker H. Strass & Philipp Assmy & Marina Montresor & Boris Cisewski & Nicolas Savoye & Adrian Webb & Francesco d’Ovidio & Jesús M. Arrieta & Ulrich Bathmann & Rich, 2012. "Deep carbon export from a Southern Ocean iron-fertilized diatom bloom," Nature, Nature, vol. 487(7407), pages 313-319, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:487:y:2012:i:7407:d:10.1038_nature11229
    DOI: 10.1038/nature11229
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    Cited by:

    1. Sebastien Moreau & Tore Hattermann & Laura Steur & Hanna M. Kauko & Heidi Ahonen & Murat Ardelan & Philipp Assmy & Melissa Chierici & Sebastien Descamps & Tilman Dinter & Tone Falkenhaug & Agneta Fran, 2023. "Wind-driven upwelling of iron sustains dense blooms and food webs in the eastern Weddell Gyre," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Katharina Hochmuth & Joanne M. Whittaker & Isabel Sauermilch & Andreas Klocker & Karsten Gohl & Joseph H. LaCasce, 2022. "Southern Ocean biogenic blooms freezing-in Oligocene colder climates," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.

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