In the pristine waters of Antarctica’s Ross Sea, where temperatures hover just above freezing, climate scientists are racing to understand how rising temperatures and carbon dioxide levels will affect marine ecosystems.
A groundbreaking study published in Biogeosciences has revealed fascinating insights into how two dominant phytoplankton species respond differently to warming oceans and increased CO2—research that was made possible by UIC Inc.’s advanced carbon analysis technology.
What makes Antarctic phytoplankton so important to climate science?
The Southern Ocean is one of Earth’s most productive marine regions, with phytoplankton blooms that contribute up to 30% of the area’s total primary production.
These microscopic organisms play a crucial role in global carbon cycles, drawing down atmospheric CO2 and influencing nutrient distribution.
Understanding how climate change affects these organisms is vital for predicting future ocean productivity and carbon sequestration.
How are scientists measuring the effects of climate change on marine ecosystems?
In this landmark study, researchers utilized UIC Inc.’s CM140 Total Inorganic Carbon Analyzer and CM5015 CO2 Coulometer to precisely quantify dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in seawater samples. The Acidification Unit CM5230 enabled researchers to measure carbon system parameters with extraordinary precision, allowing them to maintain and monitor stable CO2 concentrations ranging from 100 to 1730 ppm across experimental treatments.
This level of precision was critical for establishing the carbon dioxide functional response curves that revealed how different phytoplankton species utilize carbon at various concentrations and temperatures—something impossible without UIC’s absolute coulometric titration technology.
What groundbreaking discoveries did UIC’s equipment help uncover?
The research team discovered that diatoms (Pseudo-nitzschia subcurvata) and prymnesiophytes (Phaeocystis antarctica) respond remarkably differently to temperature increases.
While P. subcurvata thrived with warming, showing optimal growth at 8°C, P. antarctica barely tolerated temperatures above 2°C.
Most interestingly, UIC’s precise carbon measurement systems revealed an unexpected interactive effect: warming significantly decreased the CO2 half-saturation constant for diatom growth, meaning these organisms became more efficient at utilizing carbon dioxide at higher temperatures.
This finding has profound implications for understanding future carbon cycling in a warming Southern Ocean.
Research Spotlight:
UIC Inc.’s carbon analysis equipment proved indispensable in maintaining and measuring the carbonate chemistry throughout this complex multi-factorial experiment. The CM140 Total Inorganic Carbon Analyzer and CM5015 CO2 Coulometer provided the backbone of the carbon measurements, while the CM5230 Acidification Unit enabled precise sample preparation. Without this integrated carbon analysis system, researchers may not have established the fundamental relationship between carbon availability, temperature, and phytoplankton physiology that may reshape Antarctic marine ecosystems in the coming decades.
As climate change continues to transform our oceans, the technical innovations provided by UIC Inc. remain at the forefront of enabling the scientific discoveries that will help us understand and address these global challenges.
For your own carbon analysis instruments, contact us for a quote today!
Citation: Zhu, Z., Qu, P., Gale, J., Fu, F., & Hutchins, D. A. (2017). Individual and interactive effects of warming and CO2 on Pseudo-nitzschia subcurvata and Phaeocystis antarctica, two dominant phytoplankton from the Ross Sea, Antarctica. Biogeosciences, 14, 5281-5295. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2017-18
