Iron co-limitation of Sargassum fluitans
In recent years, global distribution of holopelagic Sargassum spp. (sargassum) has extended from the subtropical Sargasso Sea and Gulf of Mexico into the tropical Atlantic. Climate and current patterns drive seasonal and year-to-year fluctuations of biomass in the ocean, but the underlying drivers o...
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ftunivwagenin:oai:library.wur.nl:wurpubs/634469 2024-09-30T14:39:42+00:00 Iron co-limitation of Sargassum fluitans Leemans, Luuk Magaña-Gallegos, Eden van Katwijk, Marieke M. Lamers, Leon P.M. Smolders, Alfons J.P. Bouma, Tjeerd J. Christianen, Marjolijn J.A. van Tussenbroek, Brigitta I. 2025 application/pdf https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/iron-co-limitation-of-sargassum-fluitans https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103807 en eng https://edepot.wur.nl/673260 https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/iron-co-limitation-of-sargassum-fluitans doi:10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103807 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Wageningen University & Research Aquatic Botany 196 (2025) ISSN: 0304-3770 Co-limitation Holopelagic sargassum Iron Macroalgal bloom Nitrogen Phosphorus Article/Letter to editor 1482 ftunivwagenin https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103807 2024-09-18T00:08:04Z In recent years, global distribution of holopelagic Sargassum spp. (sargassum) has extended from the subtropical Sargasso Sea and Gulf of Mexico into the tropical Atlantic. Climate and current patterns drive seasonal and year-to-year fluctuations of biomass in the ocean, but the underlying drivers of sargassum growth are poorly understood. Previous experimental studies showed that nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) can be limiting to sargassum. However, iron (Fe) also limits primary production in large parts of the ocean. We therefore (1) conducted a mesocosm experiment studying the effects of N+P and Fe addition on the growth rate and nutrient content of Sargassum fluitans, and (2) compiled literature on Fe tissue levels in sargassum throughout its distribution area. The Fe levels in collected experimental specimens (Mexican Caribbean) were like those previously reported near coastlines with low terrestrial nutrient runoff, and in the open ocean. The addition of Fe greatly boosted growth, averaging 0.13 doublings day−1, 40 % faster than our controls, and maximum growth rate (doubling biomass in 5½d) was 46 % above previously reported maximal value. While oceanic Fe is relatively abundant in the tropical North Atlantic during rain episodes in the summers due to Saharan dust deposition, its availability is likely more limiting during other parts of the year, particularly in the western Caribbean. However, the true limiting potential of Fe depends on many factors. Our study suggests Fe co-limitation might occur widely and urges to include Fe availability in future sargassum forecasting models. Article in Journal/Newspaper North Atlantic Wageningen UR (University & Research Centre): Digital Library Aquatic Botany 196 103807 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Wageningen UR (University & Research Centre): Digital Library |
op_collection_id |
ftunivwagenin |
language |
English |
topic |
Co-limitation Holopelagic sargassum Iron Macroalgal bloom Nitrogen Phosphorus |
spellingShingle |
Co-limitation Holopelagic sargassum Iron Macroalgal bloom Nitrogen Phosphorus Leemans, Luuk Magaña-Gallegos, Eden van Katwijk, Marieke M. Lamers, Leon P.M. Smolders, Alfons J.P. Bouma, Tjeerd J. Christianen, Marjolijn J.A. van Tussenbroek, Brigitta I. Iron co-limitation of Sargassum fluitans |
topic_facet |
Co-limitation Holopelagic sargassum Iron Macroalgal bloom Nitrogen Phosphorus |
description |
In recent years, global distribution of holopelagic Sargassum spp. (sargassum) has extended from the subtropical Sargasso Sea and Gulf of Mexico into the tropical Atlantic. Climate and current patterns drive seasonal and year-to-year fluctuations of biomass in the ocean, but the underlying drivers of sargassum growth are poorly understood. Previous experimental studies showed that nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) can be limiting to sargassum. However, iron (Fe) also limits primary production in large parts of the ocean. We therefore (1) conducted a mesocosm experiment studying the effects of N+P and Fe addition on the growth rate and nutrient content of Sargassum fluitans, and (2) compiled literature on Fe tissue levels in sargassum throughout its distribution area. The Fe levels in collected experimental specimens (Mexican Caribbean) were like those previously reported near coastlines with low terrestrial nutrient runoff, and in the open ocean. The addition of Fe greatly boosted growth, averaging 0.13 doublings day−1, 40 % faster than our controls, and maximum growth rate (doubling biomass in 5½d) was 46 % above previously reported maximal value. While oceanic Fe is relatively abundant in the tropical North Atlantic during rain episodes in the summers due to Saharan dust deposition, its availability is likely more limiting during other parts of the year, particularly in the western Caribbean. However, the true limiting potential of Fe depends on many factors. Our study suggests Fe co-limitation might occur widely and urges to include Fe availability in future sargassum forecasting models. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Leemans, Luuk Magaña-Gallegos, Eden van Katwijk, Marieke M. Lamers, Leon P.M. Smolders, Alfons J.P. Bouma, Tjeerd J. Christianen, Marjolijn J.A. van Tussenbroek, Brigitta I. |
author_facet |
Leemans, Luuk Magaña-Gallegos, Eden van Katwijk, Marieke M. Lamers, Leon P.M. Smolders, Alfons J.P. Bouma, Tjeerd J. Christianen, Marjolijn J.A. van Tussenbroek, Brigitta I. |
author_sort |
Leemans, Luuk |
title |
Iron co-limitation of Sargassum fluitans |
title_short |
Iron co-limitation of Sargassum fluitans |
title_full |
Iron co-limitation of Sargassum fluitans |
title_fullStr |
Iron co-limitation of Sargassum fluitans |
title_full_unstemmed |
Iron co-limitation of Sargassum fluitans |
title_sort |
iron co-limitation of sargassum fluitans |
publishDate |
1482 |
url |
https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/iron-co-limitation-of-sargassum-fluitans https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103807 |
genre |
North Atlantic |
genre_facet |
North Atlantic |
op_source |
Aquatic Botany 196 (2025) ISSN: 0304-3770 |
op_relation |
https://edepot.wur.nl/673260 https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/iron-co-limitation-of-sargassum-fluitans doi:10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103807 |
op_rights |
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Wageningen University & Research |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103807 |
container_title |
Aquatic Botany |
container_volume |
196 |
container_start_page |
103807 |
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1811642307549593600 |