A simplified approach to detect a significant carbon dioxide reduction by phytoplankton in lakes and rivers on a regional and global scale.

ABSTRACT: Carbon dioxide (CO₂) uptake by phytoplankton can significantly reduce the partial pressure of CO₂ (pCO₂) in lakes and rivers, and thereby CO₂ emissions. Presently, it is not known in which inland waters on Earth a significant pCO₂ reduction by phytoplankton is likely. Since detailed, comparable carbon budgets are currently not available for most inland waters, we modified a proxy to assess the pCO₂ reduction by phytoplankton, originally developed for boreal lakes, for application on a global scale. Using data from 61 rivers and 125 lakes distributed over five continents, we show that a significant pCO₂ reduction by phytoplankton is widespread across the temperate and sub-/tropical region, but absent in the cold re

SUBMITTER: Engel F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7311510 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature