A model system approach to biological climate forcing. The example of Emiliania huxleyi

https://doi.org/10.1016/0921-8181(93)90061-RGet rights and content

Abstract

Particulate inorganic carbon (calcium carbonate mineral) is produced by pelagic calcifying organisms in the upper layers of the open ocean, it sinks to the deep sea, is partly dissolved and partly stored in the geological archive. This phenomenon, known as the carbonate pump, is an important component of the global carbon cycle and exerts a major influence on climate. The amount of carbonate mineral produced depends on the evolutionary and ecological success of calcifying pelagic organisms. The formulation of adequate predictive carbonate pump modules raises the problem that the behaviour of this highly diverse set of organisms needs to be taken into account. To overcome this difficulty, we propose a “model system” approach, whereby a single representative organism, the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi, is investigated in detailed interactive experimental and modelling studies. To construct a comprehensive model of the carbonate pump, subsequent research is envisaged on additional representative organisms, but this work is likely to be facilitated by the experience gained with E. huxleyi. The model system approach permits (1) an emphasis on the non-linear character of the fluxes; (2) a focus on the coupling of the carbonate pump with other climatically important phenomena — the organic carbon pump and DMS production; and (3) exploitation of the experimental accessibility of the E. huxleyi system.

References (94)

  • E.L Sikes et al.

    Use of alkenone unsaturation ratios to determine past sea surface temperatures: Core-top SST calibrations and methodopogy considerations

    Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.

    (1991)
  • P.R Van Emburg et al.

    Immunological localization of a polysaccharide from biomineral structures (coccoloths) of Emiliania huxleyi

    J. Ultrastr. Mol. Str. Res.

    (1986)
  • M.J.W Veldhuis et al.

    Growth and fluorescence characteristics of ultraplankton on a north-south transect in the eastern North Atlantic

    Deep-Sea Res.

    (1993)
  • J.K Volkman et al.

    Novel unsaturated straight-chain C37C39 methyl and ethyl ketones inn marine sediments and a coccolithophorid Emiliania huxleyi

  • J.R Young et al.

    Genotypic variation in the coccolithophorid Emiliania huxleyi

    Mar. Micropaleontol.

    (1991)
  • W.M Balch et al.

    Biological and optical properties of mesoscale coccolithophore blooms in the Gulf of Maine

    Limnol. Oceanogr.

    (1991)
  • J.J Boon et al.

    Organic geochemical analysis of cores from site 362 Walvis Ridge, DSDP leg 40

  • A.H Borman et al.

    The role in CaCO3 crystallization of an acid Ca++-binding polysaccharide associated with coccoliths of E. huxleyi

    Eur. J. Biochem.

    (1982)
  • A.H Borman et al.

    Coccolith associated polysaccharides from cells of Emiliania huxleyi (Haptophyceae)

    J. Phycol.

    (1987)
  • L.E Brand

    Genetic variability and spatial patterns of genetic differentiation in the reproductive rates of the marine coccolithophores Emiliania huxleyi and Gephyrocapsa oceanica

    Limnol. Oceanogr.

    (1982)
  • S.C Brassell

    Applications of biomarkers for delineating marine paleoclimatic fluctuations during the Pleistocene

    (1993)
  • S.C Brassell et al.

    Molecular stratigraphy: a new tool for climatic assessment

    Nature

    (1986)
  • G Bratbak et al.

    Viral mortality of the marine alga Emiliania huxleyi (Haptophyceae) and termination of algal blooms

    Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

    (1993)
  • M Brongersma-Sanders

    Mass mortality in the sea

    Geol. Soc. Am. Mem.

    (1957)
  • C.W Brown et al.

    Coccolithophorid blooms in the global ocean

    J. Geophys. Res.

    (1993)
  • R.J Charlson et al.

    Oceanic phytoplankton, atmospheric sulfur, cloud albedo and climate

    Nature

    (1987)
  • K.E Chave

    Calcium carbonate: association with organic matter in surface seawater

    Science

    (1965)
  • M.H Conte et al.

    Alkenone and alkenoate distributions within the euphotic zone of the eastern North Atlantic: Correlation with production temperature

    Deep-Sea Res.

    (1993)
  • E.W De Jong et al.

    Isolation and characterization of a Ca2+-binding polysaccharide associated with coccoliths of Emiliania huxleyi (Lohmann) Hay et Mohler

    Eur. J. Biochem.

    (1976)
  • E.W De Jong et al.

    Biocalcification by the marine alga Emiliania huxleyi (Lohmann) Hay et Mohler

    Eur. J. Biochem.

    (1979)
  • G.K Dixon et al.

    Measurement of internal pH in the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi using BCECF and digital imaging microscopy

    Planta

    (1989)
  • L.F Dong et al.

    Dissolved inorganic carbon utilisation in relation to calcite production in Emiliania huxleyi

    New Phytol.

    (1993)
  • J.K Egge et al.

    Silicate as regulatinng nutrient in phytoplankton competition

    Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

    (1992)
  • G Eglinton et al.

    Molecular record of secular sea surface changes on 100-year timescale for glacial terminations I, II and IV

    Nature

    (1992)
  • P Farrimond et al.

    A molecular stratigraphic study of Peru margin sediments, Hole 686B, Leg 112

  • E Fernández et al.

    Production of organic and inorganic carbon within a large scale coccolithophore bloom in the North Atlantic ocean

    Mar. Ecol. Progr. Ser.

    (1993)
  • N.S Fisher et al.

    Intraspecific differences in temperature and salinity responses in the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi

    Biol. Oceanogr.

    (1991)
  • H Fukoshima et al.

    Spatial features and applications of CZCS data in Asian waters

  • García-Soto C., Pingree, R.D., Fernández, E. and Harbour, D.S., Evolution and structure of a coastal coccolithophore...
  • H.E Glower et al.

    Photosynthetic carboxylating enzymes in marine phytoplankton

    Limnol. Oceanogr.

    (1979)
  • H.H Gran

    Pelagic plant life

  • G.R Hasle

    An analysis of the phytoplankton of the Pacific Southern Ocean: abundance, composition, and distribution during the Brategg Expedition 1947–1948

    Hvalrådets Skr.

    (1969)
  • P.M Holligan

    Do marine phytoplankton influence global climate?

  • P.M Holligan et al.

    From the ocean to cells: Coccolithophore optics an biogeochemistry

  • P.M Holligan et al.

    A biogeochemical study of the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi in the north Atlantic

    Global Biogeochem. Cycles

    (1993)
  • P.M Holligan et al.

    Satellite and ship studies of coccolithophore production along a continental shelf-edge

    Nature

    (1983)
  • J.P Jasper et al.

    A carbon isotopic record of CO2 levels during the late Quaternary

    Nature

    (1990)
  • Cited by (290)

    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text