Aggregation and sedimentation of Thalassiosira weissflogii (diatom) in a warmer and more acidified future ocean

PLoS One. 2014 Nov 6;9(11):e112379. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0112379. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Increasing Transparent Exopolymer Particle (TEP) formation during diatom blooms as a result of elevated temperature and pCO2 have been suggested to result in enhanced aggregation and carbon flux, therewith potentially increasing the sequestration of carbon by the ocean. We present experimental results on TEP and aggregate formation by Thalassiosira weissflogii (diatom) in the presence or absence of bacteria under two temperature and three pCO2 scenarios. During the aggregation phase of the experiment TEP formation was elevated at the higher temperature (20°C vs. 15°C), as predicted. However, in contrast to expectations based on the established relationship between TEP and aggregation, aggregation rates and sinking velocity of aggregates were depressed in warmer treatments, especially under ocean acidification conditions. If our experimental findings can be extrapolated to natural conditions, they would imply a reduction in carbon flux and potentially reduced carbon sequestration after diatom blooms in the future ocean.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carbon Dioxide / metabolism*
  • Diatoms / physiology*
  • Eutrophication / physiology*
  • Hot Temperature*
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Oceans and Seas*

Substances

  • Carbon Dioxide

Grants and funding

This work was supported by National Science Foundation grants OCE-0926711 & OCE-1041038 to UP and Helmholtz Graduate School for Polar and Marine Research and Jacobs University Bremen to SS. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript