Physiology and ecology of Fe and Cu in marine phytoplankton

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Marine phytoplankton, unicellular algae, play a critical role in the global carbon cycle, hence climate, by fixing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) to organic carbon, a large portion of which is transported to the deep ocean. However, the ocean's capacity to biologically drawdown atmospheric CO2 today is lower than during the last ice-ages, as phytoplankton growth is limited by inadequate Fe supply in 30% of the world ocean. To improve our understanding of the carbon cycle, it is imperative to investigate the role of trace metals in controlling marine productivity and ecology in these Fe-limited regions. Laboratory and field studies will elucidate trace metal metabolism and transport in marine phytoplankton. We hope to provide new insights into how marine phytoplankton subsist under conditions of extreme iron deficiency and how individual metals (e.g. Fe, Cu, Cd) may act synergistically and antagonistically to affect oceanic primary productivity and phytoplankton species assemblage composition.