Manganese Limitation of Phytoplankton Physiology and Productivity in the Southern Ocean.

ABSTRACT: Although iron and light are understood to regulate the Southern Ocean biological carbon pump, observations have also indicated a possible role for manganese. Low concentrations in Southern Ocean surface waters suggest manganese limitation is possible, but its spatial extent remains poorly constrained and direct manganese limitation of the marine carbon cycle has been neglected by ocean models. Here, using available observations, we develop a new global biogeochemical model and find that phytoplankton in over half of the Southern Ocean cannot attain maximal growth rates because of manganese deficiency. Manganese limitation is most extensive in austral spring and depends on phytoplankton traits related to the size of photosynthetic antennae and the inhibition of manganese uptake by high zinc

SUBMITTER: Hawco NJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10078217 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature