Reactivity and composition of phytoplankton-derived organic matter: implications for the marine Carbon cycle

• Main Author: Cabrera-Brufau, Miguel
• Other Authors: Marrasé, Cèlia, Cermeño, Pedro, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España), European Commission, Agencia Estatal de Investigación (España)
• Format: Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Universidad de Barcelona 2023
• Subjects: Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10261/310883

Memoria de tesis doctoral presentada por Miguel Cabrera Brufau para optar al grado de Doctor en Ciències del Mar por la Universitat de Barcelona (UB), realizada bajo la dirección de la Dra. Cèlia Marrasé Peña y del Dr. Pedro Cermeño Ainsa del Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC).-- 221 pages [EN] Marine phytoplankton are responsible for approximately half of the photosynthetic production of organic matter (OM) and oxygen in Earth. The composition and reactivity of phytoplankton- derived OM influences two of the main C-sequestration mechanisms of the ocean: the biological carbon pump and the microbial carbon pump. Phytoplankton-derived OM can be classified as particulate (POM) or dissolved (DOM) and these size-fractions are subject to diverse production, consumption and transport processes involving biotic and abiotic interactions. Understanding how these processes influence OM composition and reactivity is essential to accurately describe the role of phytoplankton ecology in the marine Carbon cycle and ultimately in the regulation of Earth climate. This thesis aims, precisely, to better understand the controls over these processes. To do so, we combined fluorescence spectroscopy and elemental analysis of POM and DOM with multiple biotic and abiotic parameters during the development and decay of phytoplankton proliferations in micro- and mesocosm experiments and under natural conditions. The microcosm degradation experiment revealed that POM derived from diatom-dominated proliferations is degraded at a much slower rate than that of POM produced by a mixed phytoplankton community. In addition, accumulation of DOM of apparent recalcitrant nature was observed during the processing of diatom-derived POM. The analysis of four phytoplankton proliferations in Antarctic waters revealed that protein-like fluorescent OM was contributed by dissolved and particulate materials. The abundance and composition of phytoplankton and their interactions with viruses and grazers were identified as the main controls over the ...