Effect of ocean acidification on iron availability to marine phytoplankton

Dalin Shi, Yan Xu, Brian M. Hopkinson, Francois M. M. Morel

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

306 Scopus citations

Abstract

The acidification caused by the dissolution of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) in the ocean changes the chemistry and hence the bioavailability of iron (Fe), a limiting nutrient in large oceanic regions. Here, we show that the bioavailability of dissolved Fe may decline because of ocean acidification. Acidification of media containing various Fe compounds decreases the Fe uptake rate of diatoms and coccolithophores to an extent predicted by the changes in Fe chemistry. A slower Fe uptake by a model diatom with decreasing pH is also seen in experiments with Atlantic surface water. The Fe requirement of model phytoplankton remains unchanged with increasing CO 2. The ongoing acidification of seawater is likely to increase the Fe stress of phytoplankton populations in some areas of the ocean.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)676-679
Number of pages4
JournalScience
Volume327
Issue number5966
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 5 2010

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General

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