Iron Speciation and Its Biological Availability in Seawater: A Workshop

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9314179 WELLS The controversy surrounding iron limitation of phytoplankton in the open ocean and its potential role in regulating global climate, both in the present and past, has highlighted how little is known about the speciation and biological availability of iron in seawater. Several new methodologies have been developed recently that improve our ability to measure total iron concentrations in "dissolved" and particulate fractions of seawater, however, none address specifically the speciation of iron or its availability to phytoplankton. There is a tremendous need to gather together chemists with theoretical and analytical expertise in iron chemistry and biologists with expertise in the algal physiological aspects of iron to: 1) establish the current level of understanding of iron chemistry and the algal uptake of iron, 2) identify the specific needs and research goals. A small international workshop comprised of both young and senior scientists to address this need will be convened. The objective of the workshop will be to foster cross-disciplinary debate and studies towards developing the analytical tools needed to better define the role of iron in marine biogeochemical cycles and in the global system.