Phytoplankton growth and microzooplankton grazing in the subtropical Northeast Atlantic

PLoS One. 2013 Jul 23;8(7):e69159. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069159. Print 2013.

Abstract

Dilution experiments were performed to estimate phytoplankton growth and microzooplankton grazing rates during two Lagrangian surveys in inner and eastern locations of the Eastern North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre province (NAST-E). Our design included two phytoplankton size fractions (0.2-5 µm and >5 µm) and five depths, allowing us to characterize differences in growth and grazing rates between size fractions and depths, as well as to estimate vertically integrated measurements. Phytoplankton growth rates were high (0.11-1.60 d(-1)), especially in the case of the large fraction. Grazing rates were also high (0.15-1.29 d(-1)), suggesting high turnover rates within the phytoplankton community. The integrated balances between phytoplankton growth and grazing losses were close to zero, although deviations were detected at several depths. Also, O2 supersaturation was observed up to 110 m depth during both Lagrangian surveys. These results add up to increased evidence indicating an autotrophic metabolic balance in oceanic subtropical gyres.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Atlantic Ocean
  • Biomass
  • Chlorophyll / metabolism
  • Chlorophyll A
  • Geography
  • Oceanography
  • Phytoplankton / growth & development*
  • Tropical Climate*
  • Zooplankton / growth & development*

Substances

  • Chlorophyll
  • Chlorophyll A

Grants and funding

This research has been supported by CARPOS (MEC, REN2003-09532-C03-03) and DOS MARES (CTM2010-21810-C03-03) projects. CC was supported by a FPU fellowship by MEC (AP2008-03658) and FGT by a FICYT “Severo Ochoa” fellowship (PCTI2006-09, Gobierno del Principado de Asturias). JH was supported by research contracts from CARPOS (MEC) and RADIAL (IEO- Universidad de Oviedo) projects. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.