What is it about?
Phytoplankton's death contributes to marine settleable particulate organic matter (POM). In this study, we used laboratory cultivation of different algal species to identify a positive correlation between the cumulative number of dead algal cells and POC_>75 (carbon content of the settleable POM). The contribution coefficient of cell death to POC_>75 varied among different algal species. Additionally, the field survey and incubation experiment were conducted in the East China Sea to explore the spatial-temporal correlation between phytoplankton death and POC_>75.
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Why is it important?
The results concluded that phytoplankton death was the main factor controlling POC_>75. In the East China Sea, the relationship between the surface cumulative mass of POC_>75 and the cumulative number of dead cells followed: Cumulative mass of POC_>75(mg) = 0.487 × Cumulative number of dead cells (/10^4) + 0.069. This study provided a methodology to quantitatively explain the relationship between phytoplankton death and settleable POM.
Perspectives
• The death of phytoplankton promotes the formation of settleable POM. • The contribution of phytoplankton death to settleable POM varies by species. • The integrated contribution of algal death to settleable POM was studied at sea.
Dr Wei-Dong Zhai
Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Province Laboratory (Zhuhai)
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Exploring contribution of phytoplankton cell death to settleable particulate organic carbon in the East China Sea in spring, Marine Pollution Bulletin, April 2024, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116197.
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