Support for Publication Costs, American Society of Limnologyand Oceanography Symposium, What Controls Phytoplankton ___ Production in Nutrient-Rich Area of the Open Ocean

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The apparent paradox of high nutrients/low phytoplankton populations in some areas of the open ocean has challenged oceanographers for many years. Hypotheses to explain it include the regulation of productivity by light, temperature, zooplankton grazing, and trace metal limitation and/or toxicity in these regions. To date, none of the hypotheses, or combinations thereof, has emerged as a widely accepted explanation for why the nitrogen and phosphorus are not depleted in these areas of the oceans. Recently, new evidence has supported the hypothesis that iron deficiency limits phytoplankton growth in Subarctic and Antarctic waters. This evidence has stimulated discussions of the feasibility of fertilizing parts of the oceans with iron, and thus sequestering additional atmospheric CO2 in the deep oceans where it would be bound over the next few centuries. The economic, social, and ethical issues surrounding such a proposition, along with the outstanding scientific issues, justify rigorous discussion, debate, and publication on the topic of regulation of productivity in these regions. To this end, The American Society of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) held a symposium on the topic of "What controls phytoplankton in nutrient-rich areas of the open sea?" ASLO now seeks funding to cover the costs of publishing a special symposium issue of Limnology and Oceanography, to provide a written record of the symposium proceedings.