Reductive Sulfur and Carbon Assimilation in Northeastern Pacific Ocean Microplankton

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Study will be made of dimethyl sulfide distribution in seawater and overlying air masses with de novo production of reduced sulfur compounds from sulfate. Incorporation of radioactive sulfate into reduced (protein and metabolites) and non-reduced (sulfolipids and sulfate esters) components of microplankton will be measured as a function of light field and depth over the naturally occurring day/night cycle. Additional measurements of radioactive bicarbonate incorporation into cellular constituents will be made in a similar manner to determine (a) the proportion of reductive sulfate assimilation attributable to phytoplankton and (b) the applicability of carbon-based productivity measurements to phytoplankton sulfate reduction and hence potential volatile sulfur compound release. Estimates will be made of areal production for comparison with dimethyl sulfide flux estimates.