Seawater carbonate chemistry and processes during experiments with phytoplankton Emiliania huxleyi (strain Bergen 2005), 2010

• Main Authors: Barcelos e Ramos, Joana, Müller, Marius N, Riebesell, Ulf
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: PANGAEA 2010
• Subjects: Alkalinity; total; Aragonite saturation state; Automated segmented-flow analyzer (Quaatro); Bicarbonate ion; Bottles or small containers/Aquaria (<20 L); Calcification/Dissolution; Calcification rate of carbon per cell; Calcite saturation state; Calculated using CO2SYS; Calculated using seacarb after Nisumaa et al. (2010); Carbon; inorganic; dissolved; Carbonate ion; Carbonate system computation flag; Carbon dioxide; Chromista; Coulter Counter Z series (Beckman Coulter); Cumulative carbon fixation per cell; Description; Determination of phosphate (Murphy & Riley; 1962); Emiliania huxleyi; diameter; EPOCA; EUR-OCEANS; European network of excellence for Ocean Ecosystems Analysis; European Project on Ocean Acidification; Experimental treatment; Fugacity of carbon dioxide (water) at sea surface temperature (wet air); Growth/Morphology; Haptophyta; Laboratory experiment; Laboratory strains; Light:Dark cycle; Maximum photochemical quantum yield of photosystem II; Metrohm Titrando titrator; Not applicable; OA-ICC; Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre; Organic carbon fixation per cell per hour; PAM (PhytoPAM; Phyto-ED Walz; PPAA0138); Partial pressure of carbon dioxide (water) at sea surface temperature (wet air); Particulate inorganic carbon/particulate organic carbon ratio; Pelagos; pH; Bergen; Riley; Coulter; Ocean acidification
• Online Access: https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.736022; https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.736022

The response of the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi to rising CO2 concentrations is well documented for acclimated cultures where cells are exposed to the CO2 treatments for several generations prior to the experiment. The exact number of generations required for acclimation to CO2-induced changes in seawater carbonate chemistry, however, is unknown. Here we show that Emiliania huxleyi's short-term response (26 h) after cultures (grown at 500 µatm) were abruptly exposed to changed CO2 concentrations (~190, 410, 800 and 1500 ?atm) is similar to that obtained with acclimated cultures under comparable conditions in earlier studies. Most importantly, from the lower CO2 levels (190 and 410 ?atm) to 750 and 1500 µatm calcification decreased and organic carbon fixation increased within the first 8 to 14 h after exposing the cultures to changes in carbonate chemistry. This suggests that Emiliania huxleyi rapidly alters the rates of essential metabolical processes in response to changes in seawater carbonate chemistry, establishing a new physiological "state" (acclimation) within a matter of hours. If this relatively rapid response applies to other phytoplankton species, it may simplify interpretation of studies with natural communities (e.g. mesocosm studies and ship-board incubations), where often it is not feasible to allow for a pre-conditioning phase before starting experimental incubations.