A Mesoscale Iron Enrichment in the Western Subarctic Pacific Induces a Large Centric Diatom Bloom

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1082000
• Publication Date: 2003-05-08T20:53:55Z
• Authors: Atsushi Tsuda; Shigenobu Takeda; Hiroaki Saito; Jun Nishioka; Yukihiro Nojiri; Isao Kudo; Hiroshi Kiyosawa; Akihiro Shiomoto; Keiri Imai; Tsuneo Ono; Akifumi Shimamoto; Daisuke Tsumune; Takeshi Yoshimura; Tatsuo Aono; Akira Hinuma; Masatoshi Kinugasa; Koji Suzuki; Yoshiki Sohrin; Yoshifumi Noiri; Heihachiro Tani; Yuji Deguchi; Nobuo Tsurushima; Hiroshi Ogawa; Kimio Fukami; Kenshi Kuma; Toshiro Saino
• Keywords: Iron fertilization; Biogeochemical Cycle; Subarctic climate; Chaetoceros; Bloom

We have performed an in situ test of the iron limitation hypothesis subarctic North Pacific Ocean. A single enrichment dissolved caused a large increase phytoplankton standing stock and decreases macronutrients carbon dioxide. The dominant species shifted after addition from pennate diatoms to centric diatom, Chaetoceros debilis, that showed very high growth rate, 2.6 doublings per day. conclude bioavailability regulates magnitude biomass key determine biogeochemical sensitivity supply high-nitrate, low-chlorophyll waters.