Contribution of small phytoplankton to total primary production in the Chukchi Sea

• Published in: Continental Shelf Research
• Main Authors: Lee, SH, Yun, MS, Kim, BK, Joo, H, Kang, SH, Kang, CK, Whitledge, TE
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD 2013
• Subjects: BERING STRAIT; NITROGEN UPTAKE; UPTAKE RATES; ICE-ZONE; CARBON; PATTERNS; VARIABILITY; TRANSPORT; ALGAE; Phytoplankton; Primary production; Carbon uptake rate; Nitrogen uptake rate; Chukchi Sea; Arctic; Arctic Ocean; Bering Strait; Pacific; Chukchi
• Online Access: https://oasis.postech.ac.kr/handle/2014.oak/35309; https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CSR.2013.08.008

Given a projection of thriving small phytoplankton in the Arctic Ocean under climate-induced environmental changes, it is important to estimate the contribution of small phytoplankton (0.7-5 mu m) to the total primary production in the Chukchi Sea, which is an important conduit of organic matter from the North Pacific to the Arctic Ocean. Based on a C-13-N-15 dual isotope tracer technique, small phytoplankton productivity measurements were taken during two consecutive cruises in the Chukchi Sea in 2004. The total phytoplankton carbon uptake rates ranged from 0 to 25.38 mg C m(-3) h(-1), whereas the uptake rates of small phytoplankton ranged from 0 to 2.87 mg C m(-3) h-1. In comparison with the carbon uptake rates, total phytoplankton nitrate uptake rates ranged from 0 to 4.40 mg N m(-3) h-1 while small phytoplankton nitrate uptake rates ranged from 0 to 0.39 mg N m(-3) h(-1). Ammonium uptake rates ranged from 0 to 8.34 mg N m(-3) h(-1) and from 0.01 to 2.18 mg N m(-3) h(-1), for total and small phytoplankton, respectively. Small phytoplankton contributed 24.80% (S.D.= +/- 23.0%) to the total chlorophyll-a concentration, and 59.41% (S.D.= +/- 52.12%) to the total carbon biomass due to its higher particulate organic carbon per chlorophyll-a unit during the two cruises in 2004. In the Chukchi Sea, the average contributions of small phytoplankton to carbon and total nitrogen (nitrate +ammonium) uptake rates were 31.72% (S.D.= +/- 23.59%) and 3731% (S.D.= +/- 26.06%), respectively. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 1 1 17 13 scie scopus