Frontiers of Earth Science

, Volume 11, Issue 2, pp 297–307 | Cite as

Patterns of coccolithophore pigment change under global acidification conditions based on in-situ observations at BATS site between July 1990–Dec 2008

  • Jianhai Lv
  • Yaoqiu Kuang
  • Hui Zhao
  • Andreas Andersson
Research Article
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

Coccolith production is an important part of the biogenic carbon cycle as the largest source of calcium carbonate on earth, accounting for about 75% of the deposition of carbon on the sea floor. Recent studies based on laboratory experiment results indicated that increasing anthropogenic CO2 in the atmosphere triggered global ocean acidification leading to a decrease of calcite or aragonite saturation and calcium carbonate, and to decreasing efficiency of carbon export/pumping to deep layers. In the present study, we analyzed about 20 years of field observations of coccolithophore pigment, dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), nutrients, and temperatures from the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS) site and satellite remote sensing to investigate the variable tendency of the coccolithophore pigment, and to evaluate the influence of ocean acidification on coccolithophore biomass. The results indicated that there was a generally increasing tendency of coccolithophore pigment, coupled with increasing bicarbonate concentrations or decreasing carbonate ion concentration. The change of coccolithophore pigment was also closely associated with pH, nutrients, mixed layer depth (MLD), and temperature. Correlation analyses between coccolithophores and abiotic parameter imply that coccoliths production or coccolithophore pigment has increased with increasing acidification in the recent 20 years.

Keywords

dissolved inorganic carbon BATS MLD coccolithophore pigments the Bermuda 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Notes

Acknowledgements

Hui ZHAO would like to thank the Nippon foundation, the Programme for Observation of the Global Ocean, Bermuda Institute of Ocean Science, Dr. Nicholas R. Bates, Dr. MichaelW. Lomas, Dr. Rod Johnson, Dr. Tony Knap, Dr. Gerald Plumley, and Jerome Aucan. The success of the BATS program to date is the result of the hard work and dedication of many scientists and technicians. We acknowledge them for providing support and scientific guidance, and for carrying out the initial analyses or processing of some of the core measurements. The study would not have been finished without the careful guidance of Dr. Andreas Andersson and the outstanding support of the captains, crews, and marine technicians of the research vessels.

References

  1. Bates N R, Takahashi T, Chipman D W, Knap A H (1998). Variability of pCO2 on diel to seasonal timescales in the Saragasso Sea near Bermuda. J Geophys Res, 103(C8): 15567–15585CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  2. Bijma J, Spero H J, Lea D W, Bemis B E (1999). Reassessing foraminiferal stable isotope geochemistry: impact of the oceanic carbonate system (experimental results). In: Fischer G, Wefer G, eds. Use of Proxies in Paleoceanography: Examples from the South Atlantic. Berlin: Springer Science & Business Media, 489–512CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  3. Brown CW (2000). Spatial and temporal variability of Emiliania huxleyi blooms in Sea WiFS imagery. Paper presented at American Geophysical Union, Ocean Sciences Meeting, San Antonio, Texas (USA), January, 24–28Google Scholar
  4. Crawford D, Purdie D (1997). Increase of pCO2 during blooms of Emiliania Huxleyi: theoretical considerations on the asymmetry between acquisition of HCO3 – and respiration of free CO2. Limnol Oceanogr, 42(2): 365–372CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. Cokacar T, Oguz T, Kubilay N (2004). Satellite-detected early summer coccolithophore blooms and their interannual variability in the Black Sea. Deep Sea Res Part I Oceanogr Res Pap, 51(8): 1017–1031CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  6. Conte M H, Ralph N, Ross E H (2001). Seasonal and interannual variability in deep ocean particle fluxes at the Oceanic Flux Program (OFP)/Bermuda Atlantic Time Series (BATS) site in the western Sargasso Sea near Bermuda. Deep Sea Res Part II Top Stud Oceanogr, 48(8–9): 1471–1505CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  7. Delille B, Harlay J, Zondervan I, Jacquet S, Chou L, Wollast R, Bellerby R G J, Frankignoulle M, Borges A V, Riebesell U, Gattuso J P (2005). Response of primary production and calcification to changes of pCO2 during experimental blooms of the coccolithophorid Emiliania huxleyi. Global Biogeochem Cycles, 19(2): GB2023CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. Dore J E, Houlihan T, Hebel D V, Tien G, Tupas L, Karl D M (1996). Freezing as a method of sample preservation for the analysis of dissolved inorganic nutrients in seawater. Mar Chem, 53(3–4): 173–185CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. Gardner W D (1977). Incomplete extraction of rapidly settling particles from water samplers. Limnol Oceanogr, 22(4): 764–768CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  10. Groom S B, Holligan P M (1987). Remote sensing of coccoltihophore blooms. Proceedings XXVI COSPAR Meeting, Toulouse, FranceGoogle Scholar
  11. Haidar A T, Thierstein H R (2001). Coccolithophore dynamics of Bermuda (N. Atlantic). Deep Sea Res Part II Top Stud Oceanogr, 48(8–9): 1925–1956CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  12. Hansell D A, Carlson C A (2001). Biogeochemistry of total organic carbon and nitrogen in the Sargasso Sea: control by convective overturn. Deep Sea Res Part II Top Stud Oceanogr, 48(8–9): 1649–1667CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  13. Heimdal B R (1983). Phytoplankton and nutrients in the waters northwest of Spitsbergen in the autumn of 1979. J Plankton Res, 5(6), 901–918CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  14. Honjo S (1986). Oceanic particles and pelagic sedimentation in the western North Atlantic Ocean. The Geology of North America, 1000: 469–478Google Scholar
  15. Honjo S (1990). Particle fluxes between 47 N and 34 N 20 W stations between April 3 to September 26, 1989. EOS Trans AGU, 71: 81Google Scholar
  16. Hulburt E M (1990). Description of phytoplankton and nutrient in spring in the western North Atlantic Ocean. J Plankton Res, 12(1): 1–28CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  17. Hulburt E M, Ryther J H, Guillard R (1960). The phytoplankton of the Sargasso Sea off Bermuda. Journal du Conseil, 25(2): 115–128CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  18. Iglesias-Rodriguez M D, Halloran P R, Rickaby R E M, Hall I R, Colmenero-Hidalgo E, Gittins J R, Green D R H, Tyrrell T, Gibbs S J, von Dassow E, Rehm E, Armbrust E V, Boessenkool K P (2008). Phytoplankton calcification in a high-CO2 world. Science, 320(5874): 336–340CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  19. Jeffrey S W, Mantoura R F C, Bjørnland T (1997). Data for the identification of 47 key phytoplankton pigments. In: Jeffrey S W, Mantoura R F C, Wright S W, eds. Phytoplankton Pigments in Oceanography: Guidelines to Modern Methods. Unesco Monographs on Oceanographic Methodology, vol 10. UNESCO, Paris, 449–559Google Scholar
  20. Joyce T M, Robbins P (1996). The long-term hydrographic record at Bermuda. J Clim, 9(12): 3121–3131CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  21. Kleypas J A, Buddemeier R W, Archer D, Gattuso J P, Langdon C, Opdyke B N (1999). Geochemical consequences of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide on coral reefs. Science, 284(5411): 118–120CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  22. Knap A H, Michaels A F, Dow R L, Johnson R J, Gundersen K, Sorensen J C, Close A R, Howse F, Hammer M, Bates N, Doyle A, Waterhouse T (1993). BATS Methods Manual, Version 3. U.S. JGOFS Planning O$ce, Woods Hole, MAGoogle Scholar
  23. Knap A H, Michaels A F, Steinberg D, Bahr F, Bates N, Bell S, Countway P, Close A, Doyle A, Howse F, Gundersen K, Johnson R, Little R, Orcutt K, Parsons R, Rathbun C, Sanderson M, Michaels A F, Knap A H (1995). Overview of the U.S. JGOFS BATS and Hydrostation S program. Deep-Sea Res, 43(2–3): 157–198Google Scholar
  24. Langer G, Geisen M, Baumann K H, Kläs J, Riebesell U, Thoms S, Young J R (2006). Species-specific responses of calcifying algae to changing seawater carbonate chemistry. Geochem Geophys Geosyst, 7(9): Q09006CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  25. Lochhead V C, Lomas M W, Lethaby P J (2001). Long-term variability of phytoplankton community structure at the Bermuda Atlantic Timeseries Study (BATS) site based on pigment analyses using the “CHEMTAX” matrix (Abstract). Workshop “Pigments as a Tool to Estimate the Biomass of Different Phytoplankton Groups”. Barcelona, 2001. 25Google Scholar
  26. Marshall H (1968). Coccolithophores in the northwest Sargasso Sea. Limnol Oceanogr, 13(2): 370–376CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  27. McGillicuddy D J, Anderson L A, Bates N R, Bibby T, Buesseler K O, Carlson C A, Hansell D A (2007). Eddy/wind interactions stimulate extraordinary mid-ocean plankton blooms. Science, 316(5827): 1021–1026CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  28. McGillicuddy D J, Robinson A R, Siegel D A, Jannasch HW, Johnson R, Dickey T D, McNeil J, Michaels A F, Knap A H (1998). Influence of mesoscale eddies on new production in the Sargasso Sea. Nature, 394: 263–266CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  29. McGillicuddy D J, Johnson R J, Siegel D A, Michaels A F, Bates N, Knap A H (1999). Mesoscale variability of ocean biogeochemistry in the Sargasso Sea. J Geophys Res, 104: 13381–13394CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  30. Lomas MW, Bates N R, Johnson R J, Knap A H, Steinberg D K, Carlson C A (2013). Two decades and counting: 24-years of sustained open ocean biogeochemical measurements in the Sargasso Sea. Deep Sea Res Part II Top Stud Oceanogr, 93: 16–32CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  31. Nimer N A, Merrett MJ (1992). Calcification and utilization of inorganic carbon by the coccolithophorid Emiliania huxleyi Lohmann. New phytol, 121(2): 173–177CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  32. Oguz T, Ediger D (2006). Comparision of in situ and satellite-derived chlorophyll pigment concentrations, and impact of phytoplankton bloom on the suboxic layer structure in the western Black Sea during May–June 2001. Deep Sea Res Part II Top Stud Oceanogr, 53(17–19): 1923–1933CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  33. Riebesell U, Zondervan I, Rost B, Tortell P D, Zeebe R E, Morel F M (2000). Reduced calcification of marine plankton in response to increased atmospheric CO2. Nature, 407: 365–367Google Scholar
  34. Siegel D A, Peterson P, McGillicuddy D J, Maritorena S, Nelson N B (2011). Biooptical footprints created by mesoscale eddies in the Sargasso Sea. Geophys Res Lett, 38: L13608CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  35. Silva A, Brotas V, Valente A, Sá C, Diniz T, Patarra R F, Álvaro N V, Neto A I (2013). Coccolithophore species as indicators of surface oceanographic conditions in the vicinity of Azores islands. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci, 118: 50–59CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  36. Sprengel C, Baumann K H, Henderiks J, Henrich R, Neuer S (2002). Modern coccolithophore and carbonate sedimentations along a productivity gradient in the Canary Islands region: seasonal export production and surface accumulation rate. Deep Sea Res Part II Top Stud Oceanogr, 49(17): 3577–3598CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  37. Steinberg D K, Carlson C A, Bates N R, Johnson R J, Michaels A F, Knap A H (2001). Overview of the US JGOFS Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS): a decade-scale look at ocean biology and biogeochemistry. Deep Sea Res Part II Top Stud Oceanogr, 48(8–9): 1405–1447CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  38. Strong A E, Eadie B J (1978). Satellite observations of calcium carbonate precipitations in the Great Lakes. Limnol Oceanogr, 23(5): 877–887CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  39. Trimborn S, Langer G, Rost B (2007). Effect of varying calcium concentrations and light intensities on calcification and photosynthesis in Emiliania huxleyi. Limnol Oceanogr, 52(5): 2285–2293CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  40. Westbroek P, Jong V D, Walder P V, Borman A H, Vrind J P (1985). Biopolymer-mediatedcalcium and manganese accumulation and biomineralization. Geol Mijnb, 64: 5–15Google Scholar
  41. Zeebe R E, Zachos J C, Caldeira K, Tyrrell T (2008). Oceans: carbon emissions and acidification. Science, 321(5885): 51–52CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  42. Zondervan I, Zeebe R E, Rost B, Riebesell U (2001). Decreasing marine biogenic calcification: a negative feedback on rising atmospheric pCO2. Global Biogeochem Cycles, 15(2): 507–516CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2017

Authors and Affiliations

  • Jianhai Lv
    • 1
    • 4
  • Yaoqiu Kuang
    • 1
  • Hui Zhao
    • 2
    • 3
  • Andreas Andersson
    • 2
  1. 1.Guangzhou Institute of GeochemistryChinese Academy of SciencesGuangzhouChina
  2. 2.Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, Ferry ReachSt. GeorgesBermuda
  3. 3.Guangdong Ocean UniversityZhanjiangChina
  4. 4.Marine and Fishery Environment Monitoring Center of GuangzhouGuangzhouChina

Personalised recommendations