Evidence of nitrate-based nighttime atmospheric nucleation driven by marine microorganisms in the South Pacific.

Our understanding of ocean-cloud interactions and their effect on climate lacks insight into a key pathway: do biogenic marine emissions form new particles in the open ocean atmosphere? Using measurements collected in ship-borne air-sea interface tanks deployed in the Southwestern Pacific Ocean, we identified new particle formation (NPF) during nighttime that was related to plankton community composition. We show that nitrate ions are the only species for which abundance could support NPF rates in our semicontrolled experiments. Nitrate ions also prevailed in the natural pristine marine atmosphere and were elevated under higher sub-10 nm particle concentrations. We hypothesize that these nucleation events were fueled by complex, short-term biogeochemical cycling involving the microbial loop. These findings suggest a new perspective with a previously unidentified role of nitrate of marine biogeochemical origin in aerosol nucleation.

Bioavailable iron concentrations regulate phytoplankton growth and bloom formation in low-nutrient lakes.

The growth of phytoplankton in lakes is thought to be primarily controlled by macronutrient concentrations, but the availability of trace metal micronutrients, such as iron (Fe), are increasingly recognised as important regulators of lake primary production. This study evaluates the role of Fe in regulating phytoplankton growth in lakes of different nutrient status in New Zealand. The results of this unique year-long study, combining highly sensitive trace metal concentration analysis of waters and particulates with advanced trace metal bioavailability and speciation modelling, constrains thresholds for bioavailable Fe and colloidal Fe of 0.8 nmol·L-1 and 30 nmol·L-1, respectively, below which phytoplankton growth-limitation occurs. These thresholds specifically control diatom bloom formation and termination in lakes, thereby exerting a strong influence on freshwater carbon sequestration, given the dominance of diatoms in lake bloom assemblages. Importantly, potentially toxic cyanobacteria thrived only after events of bottom water anoxia, when additional dissolved Fe in concentrations ≥4 nmol·L-1 was released into the water column. These new thresholds for bioavailable and colloidal Fe offer the potential to manage micronutrient levels in lakes for the purpose of regulating algal bloom formation and carbon sequestration, while at the same time, suppressing the formation of harmful cyanobacterial blooms.

Salp blooms drive strong increases in passive carbon export in the Southern Ocean.

The Southern Ocean contributes substantially to the global biological carbon pump (BCP). Salps in the Southern Ocean, in particular Salpa thompsoni, are important grazers that produce large, fast-sinking fecal pellets. Here, we quantify the salp bloom impacts on microbial dynamics and the BCP, by contrasting locations differing in salp bloom presence/absence. Salp blooms coincide with phytoplankton dominated by diatoms or prymnesiophytes, depending on water mass characteristics. Their grazing is comparable to microzooplankton during their early bloom, resulting in a decrease of ~1/3 of primary production, and negative phytoplankton rates of change are associated with all salp locations. Particle export in salp waters is always higher, ranging 2- to 8- fold (average 5-fold), compared to non-salp locations, exporting up to 46% of primary production out of the euphotic zone. BCP efficiency increases from 5 to 28% in salp areas, which is among the highest recorded in the global ocean.

In situ response of Antarctic under-ice primary producers to experimentally altered pH.

Elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations are contributing to ocean acidification (reduced seawater pH and carbonate concentrations), with potentially major ramifications for marine ecosystems and their functioning. Using a novel in situ experiment we examined impacts of reduced seawater pH on Antarctic sea ice-associated microalgal communities, key primary producers and contributors to food webs. pH levels projected for the following decades-to-end of century (7.86, 7.75, 7.61), and ambient levels (7.99), were maintained for 15 d in under-ice incubation chambers. Light, temperature and dissolved oxygen within the chambers were logged to track diurnal variation, with pH, O2, salinity and nutrients assessed daily. Uptake of CO2 occurred in all treatments, with pH levels significantly elevated in the two extreme treatments. At the lowest pH, despite the utilisation of CO2 by the productive microalgae, pH did not return to ambient levels and carbonate saturation states remained low; a potential concern for organisms utilising this under-ice habitat. However, microalgal community biomass and composition were not significantly affected and only modest productivity increases were noted, suggesting subtle or slightly positive effects on under-ice algae. This in situ information enables assessment of the influence of future ocean acidification on under-ice community characteristics in a key coastal Antarctic habitat.

No stimulation of nitrogen fixation by non-filamentous diazotrophs under elevated CO2 in the South Pacific.

Nitrogen fixation by diazotrophic cyanobacteria is a critical source of new nitrogen to the oligotrophic surface ocean. Research to date indicates that some diazotroph groups may increase nitrogen fixation under elevated pCO2 . To test this in natural plankton communities, four manipulation experiments were carried out during two voyages in the South Pacific (30-35o S). High CO2 treatments, produced using 750 ppmv CO2 to adjust pH to 0.2 below ambient, and 'Greenhouse' treatments (0.2 below ambient pH and ambient temperature +3 °C), were compared with Controls in trace metal clean deckboard incubations in triplicate. No significant change was observed in nitrogen fixation in either the High CO2 or Greenhouse treatments over 5 day incubations. qPCR measurements and optical microscopy determined that the diazotroph community was dominated by Group A unicellular cyanobacteria (UCYN-A), which may account for the difference in response of nitrogen fixation under elevated CO2 to that reported previously for Trichodesmium. This may reflect physiological differences, in that the greater cell surface area:volume of UCYN-A and its lack of metabolic pathways involved in carbon fixation may confer no benefit under elevated CO2 . However, multiple environmental controls may also be a factor, with the low dissolved iron concentrations in oligotrophic surface waters limiting the response to elevated CO2 . If nitrogen fixation by UCYN-A is not stimulated by elevated pCO2 , then future increases in CO2 and warming may alter the regional distribution and dominance of different diazotroph groups, with implications for dissolved iron availability and new nitrogen supply in oligotrophic regions.