Biogeosciences
www.biogeosciences.net
1726-4170
1726-4189
5
2
2008
10.5194/bg-5-509-2008
http://www.biogeosciences.net/5/509/2008/
http://www.biogeosciences.net/5/509/2008/bg-5-509-2008.html
http://www.biogeosciences.net/5/509/2008/bg-5-509-2008.pdf
509
521
2008-04-08
Effects of CO<sub>2</sub> on particle size distribution and phytoplankton abundance during a mesocosm bloom experiment (PeECE II)
A. Engel
anja.engel@awi.de
K. G. Schulz
U. Riebesell
R. Bellerby
B. Delille
M. Schartau
Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences, IFM-GEOMAR, Kiel, Germany
Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
Unité d'Océanographie Chimique, MARE, Université de Liège, Liège, Belgium
Institute for Coastal Research, GKSS Research Centre, Geesthacht, Germany
The influence of seawater carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) concentration on the
size distribution of suspended particles (2–60 μm) and on phytoplankton
abundance was investigated during a mesocosm experiment at the large scale
facility (LFS) in Bergen, Norway, in the frame of the Pelagic Ecosystem
CO<sub>2</sub> Enrichment study (PeECE II). In nine outdoor enclosures the partial
pressure of CO<sub>2</sub> in seawater was modified by an aeration system to
simulate past (~190 μatm CO<sub>2</sub>), present (~370 μatm
CO<sub>2</sub>) and future (~700 μatm CO<sub>2</sub>) CO<sub>2</sub> conditions in
triplicates. Due to the initial addition of inorganic nutrients,
phytoplankton blooms developed in all mesocosms and were monitored over a
period of 19 days. Seawater samples were collected daily for analysing the
abundance of suspended particles and phytoplankton with the Coulter Counter
and with Flow Cytometry, respectively. During the bloom period, the
abundance of small particles (<4 μm) significantly increased at past,
and decreased at future CO<sub>2</sub> levels. At that time, a direct relationship
between the total-surface-to-total-volume ratio of suspended particles and
DIC concentration was determined for all mesocosms. Significant changes with
respect to the CO<sub>2</sub> treatment were also observed in the phytoplankton
community structure. While some populations such as diatoms seemed to be
insensitive to the CO<sub>2</sub> treatment, others like <i>Micromonas spp</i>. increased with
CO<sub>2</sub>, or showed maximum abundance at present day CO<sub>2</sub> (i.e. <i>Emiliania huxleyi</i>).
The strongest response to CO<sub>2</sub> was observed in the abundance of small
autotrophic nano-plankton that strongly increased during the bloom in the
past CO<sub>2</sub> mesocosms. Together, changes in particle size distribution and
phytoplankton community indicate a complex interplay between the ability of
the cells to physiologically respond to changes in CO<sub>2</sub> and size
selection. Size of cells is of general importance for a variety of processes
in marine systems such as diffusion-limited uptake of substrates, resource
allocation, predator-prey interaction, and gravitational settling. The
observed changes in particle size distribution are therefore discussed with
respect to biogeochemical cycling and ecosystem functioning.
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