Effect of ocean acidification on coastal phytoplankton composition and accompanying organic nitrogen production

Journal of Oceanography volume 68, pages183–194(2012)Cite this article

Abstract

The effect of ocean acidification, caused by the increase in pCO2 in seawater, on phytoplankton population and on related organic nitrogen production was experimentally examined by use of a natural coastal microbial population. pCO2 and pH were controlled by aeration with air in which pCO2 was at the current level (control), for which ambient air was used, and with air in which pCO2 was “800” and “1200” ppm, in 500-L culture vessels. The experiment was continued for 15 days after addition of the inorganic nutrients such as nitrate, phosphate, and silicate. During most of the experimental period, a minor increase in phytoplankton biomass was noted, probably because of low irradiance, an increase in phytoplankton biomass was observed at the end of the experiment. Flow cytometric and microscopic observations revealed that this increase was because of Chrysochromulina sp. (Haptophyceae). The growth of Chrysochromulina sp. was most obvious in the control vessel, and tended to be obscured by increasing pCO2 (decrease in pH), indicating the possibility that ocean acidification inhibits the growth of specific phytoplankton groups, for example Chrysochromulina sp. Production of particulate organic nitrogen (PON), determined by the 15N tracer method, also diminished under acidified conditions compared with that at the current level.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to thank Associate Professor Y. Kyodo of the University of Tsukuba for fruitful discussions concerning the culture system. We are also indebted to staff members of the Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, for their valuable assistance during the culture experiment. This work was financially supported by a grant from Global Environmental Research Fund of the Ministry of the Environment, Japan. This report is contribution no. 753 from the Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba.

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Author notes

  1. Yuko Omori

    Present address: Center for Global Environmental Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan

  2. Shu Saito

    Present address: Global Environment and Marine Department, Japan Meteorological Agency, Otemachi 1-3-4, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-8122, Japan

Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8572, Japan

    Takeo Hama, Shoko Kawashima, Koichi Shimotori, Yuhi Satoh, Yuko Omori, Hiroko Endo, Tsuyoshi Nakayama & Isao Inouye

  2. School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8572, Japan

    Taiki Adachi & Shun Hasegawa

  3. Geochemical Research Department, Meteorological Research Institute, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0052, Japan

    Takashi Midorikawa, Masao Ishii, Shu Saito & Daisuke Sasano

  4. Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shimoda, Shizuoka, 415-0025, Japan

    Shigeki Wada

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  1. Takeo Hama
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Correspondence to Takeo Hama.

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Hama, T., Kawashima, S., Shimotori, K. et al. Effect of ocean acidification on coastal phytoplankton composition and accompanying organic nitrogen production. J Oceanogr 68, 183–194 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10872-011-0084-6

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Keywords

  • Ocean acidification
  • pH
  • pCO2
  • Phytoplankton composition
  • Haptophyte
  • Chrysochromulina
  • Organic nitrogen production
  • Flow cytometry