Collaborative Research: Southern Ocean Iron Experiment (SOFeX): Primary/Bacterial Production and Taxon-Specific Growth and Photosynthetic Response

合作研究：南大洋铁实验（SOFeX）：初级/细菌生产和分类群特异性生长和光合反应

• 批准号: 0000329
• 负责人: Walker Smith
• 金额: $ 30.32万
• 依托单位: College of William & Mary Virginia Institute of Marine Science
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2001
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2001-03-15 至 2004-02-29
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0000329&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Southern; Ocean; Iron

This project is a component of Southern Ocean Iron Experiment (SOFeX). SOFeX is an effort to seed a small area within the Antarctic Circumpolar current with iron, to follow this patch of water by measuring the distribution of an inert tracer (SF6) added with the iron, and to assess the chemical and biological responses to this addition. Recent observations have indicated that iron plays a controlling role in the production and export of organic matter in all regions of the Southern Ocean. Furthermore, because the Southern Ocean contains the largest pool of inorganic macronutrients of the world ocean, it has the greatest potential to influence the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide by acting as a sink for CO2. In order to predict the impact of natural variations in iron supply on carbon partitioning, it is imperative that we understand the complex biological interactions that occur upon iron enrichment. This component will measure primary productivity within an outside the iron-enriched path of water to quantify the direct response of iron to the in situ phytoplankton assemblage on time scales of days. Productivity of three size fractions will be measured: 5um, 5 but 20 um, and 20 um. The quantitative taxonomic composition of the three size fractions will be directly determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The photosynthesis versus irradiance (P vs. E) responses of the same fractions also will be measured for two reasons. First, the P vs. E response is a sensitive measure of iron limitation. Secondly, the data will be used to investigate iron/irradiance interactions because it has been hypothesized that phytoplankton adapted to low light require more iron than do those adapted to higher irradiances (a condition especially important in the Southern Ocean). The bacterial biomass and production both within and outside the patch will be measured to assess the heterotrophic response to iron addition. Experiments will assess whether the bacterial response is direct (a result of inorganic iron limitation removal) or indirect (a result of organic substrate addition due to the stimulation of phytoplankton photosynthesis and DOC production, or via increased grazing on the increased phytoplankton biomass generated by iron additions). The taxon-specific growth rates of phytoplankton will also be measured directly using a pigment-labeling technique. Resolving the responses of diatoms relative to other taxa is critical for accurate modeling of the phytoplankton response to varying iron supply because diatom blooms play a pivotal role in the export of carbon to the deep sea. The results of the SOFeX project will provide insights into the response of the biogeochemistry and ecology of the Southern Ocean to iron enrichment and produce a new understanding of the functioning of this poorly known, but critical oceanic region.

该项目是南大洋铁实验的一个组成部分。 SOFeX是一项努力，在南极绕极流内的一个小区域内播种铁，通过测量加入铁的惰性示踪剂（SF6）的分布来跟踪这片水域，并评估对这种添加的化学和生物反应。 最近的观察表明，铁在南大洋所有区域的有机物生产和输出中起着控制作用。 此外，由于南大洋含有世界海洋中最大的无机宏量营养素库，它最有可能通过充当二氧化碳汇而影响大气中二氧化碳的浓度。 为了预测铁供应的自然变化对碳分配的影响，我们必须了解铁富集后发生的复杂生物相互作用。 这一部分将测量初级生产力在一个外部的富铁路径的水，以量化铁的直接反应，在现场浮游植物组合的时间尺度上的天。 将测量三种尺寸级分的生产率：5 μ m、5 μ m但20 μ m和20 μ m。 将通过高效液相色谱法（HPLC）直接测定三种大小级分的定量分类组成。 由于两个原因，也将测量相同组分的光合作用与辐照度（P与E）的响应。 首先，P与E反应是铁限制的敏感措施。 其次，这些数据将用于研究铁/辐照度的相互作用，因为据推测，适应低光的浮游植物比适应高辐照度的浮游植物需要更多的铁（这在南大洋尤其重要）。 将测量贴片内外的细菌生物量和产量，以评估对铁添加的异养反应。 实验将评估细菌的反应是直接的（无机铁限制去除的结果）还是间接的（由于浮游植物光合作用和DOC生产的刺激，或通过增加铁添加产生的浮游植物生物量增加放牧的有机底物添加的结果）。 浮游植物的特定类群的生长速率也将直接使用色素标记技术进行测量。 解决硅藻相对于其他类群的响应是至关重要的浮游植物对不同铁供应的响应的准确建模，因为硅藻水华在向深海输出碳中起着至关重要的作用。 SOFeX项目的结果将提供深入了解南大洋的地球化学和生态对铁富集的反应，并对这一鲜为人知但至关重要的海洋区域的功能产生新的理解。