Carbon and Iron Uptake by Phytoplankton in the Amundsen Sea, Antarctica

Abstract

Freshwater components in the Southern Ocean, whether sea ice meltwater or meteoric water, influence the growth of phytoplankton by affecting water stability and supplying dissolved iron (DFe). In addition, melting sea ice stimulates phytoplankton blooms by providing ice algae. In this study, sea ice meltwater and meteoric water in the Amundsen Sea (AS) were differentiated by their stable oxygen isotopic compositions (δ18O), while the phytoplankton carbon fixation rate (CFR) and iron uptake rate (FeUR) values were determined using the 14C and 55Fe tracer assays, respectively. Our results showed that FeUR exhibits a significant positive response only to sea ice meltwater, suggesting that DFe and algae provided by sea ice melting may be the main cause. In addition, the CFR had a slightly positive response to the freshwater input and a stronger correlation with the phytoplankton biomass, suggesting that the freshwater input may have enhanced the CFR through the algae released from sea ice melting. The FeUR normalized to the phytoplankton biomass was significantly positively correlated with the mixed layer depth, suggesting that water stability regulates the phytoplankton growth and the resulting Fe demand. A higher Fe demand per unit of carbon fixation during sea ice formation leads to a higher Fe/C ratio in phytoplankton. Although no significant correlations were observed between the FeUR, CFR, and meteoric water, meteoric water may have an effect on larger phytoplankton sensitive to Fe deficiencies. The results of culture experiments with DFe addition showed that the added Fe significantly enhanced the Fe uptake, carbon fixation, and Fe/C ratio of the cells, especially for micro-phytoplankton. The more pronounced response of micro-phytoplankton means that the meteoric water input may affect the efficiency of carbon export. Our study provides the first measurements of phytoplankton Fe quotas in the AS in austral late summer and early autumn, providing insights into how meteoric water and sea ice meltwater affect seasonal changes in Antarctic ecosystems.