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Phytoplankton plasticity drives large variability in carbon fixation efficiency
Author(s) -
Ayata SakinaDorothée,
Lévy Marina,
Aumont Olivier,
Resplandy Laure,
Tagliabue Alessandro,
Sciandra Antoine,
Bernard Olivier
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2014gl062249
Subject(s) - phytoplankton , biogeochemical cycle , environmental science , eutrophication , spatial variability , carbon fibers , carbon sequestration , atmospheric sciences , soil science , ecology , nutrient , biology , carbon dioxide , materials science , mathematics , geology , statistics , composite material , composite number
Phytoplankton C:N stoichiometry is highly flexible due to physiological plasticity, which could lead to high variations in carbon fixation efficiency (carbon consumption relative to nitrogen). However, the magnitude, as well as the spatial and temporal scales of variability, remains poorly constrained. We used a high‐resolution biogeochemical model resolving various scales from small to high, spatially and temporally, in order to quantify and better understand this variability. We find that phytoplankton C:N ratio is highly variable at all spatial and temporal scales (5–12 molC/molN), from mesoscale to regional scale, and is mainly driven by nitrogen supply. Carbon fixation efficiency varies accordingly at all scales (±30%), with higher values under oligotrophic conditions and lower values under eutrophic conditions. Hence, phytoplankton plasticity may act as a buffer by attenuating carbon sequestration variability. Our results have implications for in situ estimations of C:N ratios and for future predictions under high CO 2 world.