Southern Ocean phytoplankton: biogeochemical cycling and ecosystem productivity

Project Member(s): Petrou, K.

Funding or Partner Organisation: Australian Synchrotron Research Program (Australian Synchrotron Beamline)

Start year: 2014

Summary: Microalgae produce half of the Earth¿s organic carbon and atmospheric oxygen, fuel marine and terrestrial ecosystems, drive carbon cycling and regulate Earth¿s climate. This project aims to probe the effects of iron and light conditions on natural Southern Ocean phytoplankton communities. Using FTIR Microspectroscopy and XFM, we will characterise phytoplankton responses to varying iron and light conditions, helping to reveal the role of phytoplankton in Southern Ocean biogeochemical cycling. Novel to this work is the use of XFM to determine elemental uptake and distribution, and the correlation of the elemental signals with FTIR microspectroscopy measurements.

Publications:

Petrou, K, Kranz, SA, Trimborn, S, Hassler, CS, Ameijeiras, SB, Sackett, O, Ralph, PJ & Davidson, AT 2016, 'Southern Ocean phytoplankton physiology in a changing climate', JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY, vol. 203, pp. 135-150.
View/Download from: Publisher's site

Keywords: Synchrotron, microspectroscopy, diatoms, Southern Ocean

FOR Codes: Biological Oceanography, Energy not elsewhere classified, Ecology not elsewhere classified, Microbiology not elsewhere classified, Plant Production and Plant Primary Products not elsewhere classified, Environment not elsewhere classified, Environmentally sustainable energy activities, Environmentally sustainable plant production, Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.