Particulate trace metals & iron availability to phytoplankton in a changing Arctic Ocean ...

• Main Author: Li, Jingxuan
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: University of British Columbia 2017
• Subjects: Arctic; Arctic Ocean; Phytoplankton
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0348666; https://doi.library.ubc.ca/10.14288/1.0348666

This thesis, focusing on the Canadian Arctic Ocean, investigates the cycling of particulate trace metals, and the bioavailability of iron to phytoplankton in this rapidly changing ocean. Full depth profiles of particulate Al, Cd, Pb, P, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn and Ba were determined. Trace elements displayed various vertical distributions. Firstly, some elements had a strong lithogenic component (Al, Fe and V), and were characterized by a maximum at the surface. Indeed, their concentrations strongly correlated with each other across basins. Secondly, elements with a significant biogenic component (Cd and Cu) were characterized by a decrease in concentration with depth. Furthermore, preferential remineralization of P over Cd at shallow depths in numerous stations is reported. In some stations across basins, the molar ratio of particulate Cu and P approached a plateau at the meso- or bathy-pelagic zone, suggesting the presence of ammonium oxidizing archaea, which require Cu-dependent enzymes. Thirdly, Mn, a ...