Resistance of Arctic phytoplankton to ocean acidification and enhanced irradiance


Contact
Clara.Hoppe [ at ] awi.de

Abstract

The Arctic Ocean is a region particularly prone to ongoing ocean acidification (OA) and climate-driven changes. The influence of these changes on Arctic phytoplankton assemblages, however, remains poorly understood. In order to understand how OA and enhanced irradiances (e.g., resulting from sea–ice retreat) will alter the species composition, primary production, and ecophysiology of Arctic phytoplankton, we conducted an incubation experiment with an assemblage from Baffin Bay (71°N, 68°W) under different carbonate chemistry and irradiance regimes. Seawater was collected from just below the deep Chl a maximum, and the resident pytoplankton were exposed to 380 and 1000 latm pCO2 at both 15 and 35% incident irradiance. On-deck incubations, in which temperatures were 6°C above in situ conditions, were monitored for phytoplankton growth, biomass stoichiometry, net primary production, photo-physiology, and taxonomic composition. During the 8-day experiment, taxonomic diversity decreased and the diatom Chaetoceros socialis became increasingly dominant irrespective of light or CO2 levels. We found no statistically significant effects from either higher CO2 or light on physiological properties of phytoplankton during the experiment. We did, however, observe an initial 2-day stress response in all treatments, and slight photo-physiological responses to higher CO2 and light during the first five days of the incubation. Our results thus indicate high resistance of Arctic phytoplankton to OA and enhanced irradiance levels, challenging the commonly predicted stimulatory effects of enhanced CO2 and light availability for primary production.



Item Type
Article
Authors
Divisions
Primary Division
Programs
Primary Topic
Publication Status
Published
Eprint ID
45326
DOI 10.1007/s00300-017-2186-0

Cite as
Hoppe, C. J. M. , Schuback, N. , Semeniuk, D. , Giesbrecht, K. , Mol, J. , Thomas, H. , Maldonado, M. T. , Rost, B. , Varela, D. E. and Tortell, P. D. (2017): Resistance of Arctic phytoplankton to ocean acidification and enhanced irradiance , Polar Biology . doi: 10.1007/s00300-017-2186-0


Download
[thumbnail of Hoppeetal2017c_PolBio.pdf]
Preview
PDF
Hoppeetal2017c_PolBio.pdf

Download (602kB) | Preview
Cite this document as:

Share
Add to AnyAdd to TwitterAdd to FacebookAdd to LinkedinAdd to PinterestAdd to Email


Citation

Geographical region

Research Platforms
N/A

Campaigns
N/A


Actions
Edit Item Edit Item