Deciphering strategies polar phytoplankton employ to lessen iron limitation

南大洋具有全球重要性。按面积计算，它占全球海洋的三分之一，不成比例地吸收了三分之二的人为海洋热量和一半的人为二氧化碳排放，尽管该地区的浮游植物长期缺铁。本项目旨在了解为什么浮游植物对铜的吸收会减少铁限制的影响，以及铜如何替代铁。这一知识对于评估铁和铜在调节南大洋生产力以及最终减少大气二氧化碳的能力方面的影响和反馈至关重要。该项目的成果将有助于改进生态系统模型和保护工具的发展。

The Southern Ocean is of global importance. It comprises one-third of the global ocean by area and disproportionately absorbs two-thirds of anthropogenic ocean heat and half of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions even though phytoplankton in this region are chronically iron-limited. This project aims to understand why copper uptake by phytoplankton lessens the effects of iron limitation and how copper substitutes for iron. This knowledge is critical for evaluating the impacts and feedbacks between iron and copper in regulating Southern Ocean productivity and ultimately its ability to drawdown atmospheric CO2. The results from this project will facilitate the development of improved ecosystem models and conservation tools.