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Effects of ocean acidification on the biogenic composition of the sea‐surface microlayer: Results from a mesocosm study
Author(s) -
Galgani Luisa,
Stolle Christian,
Endres Sonja,
Schulz Kai G.,
Engel Anja
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: oceans
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9291
pISSN - 2169-9275
DOI - 10.1002/2014jc010188
Subject(s) - mesocosm , environmental science , ocean acidification , microbial loop , oceanography , atmosphere (unit) , phytoplankton , organic matter , emiliania huxleyi , biogeochemical cycle , environmental chemistry , climate change , ecology , nutrient , chemistry , geology , biology , physics , thermodynamics
The sea‐surface microlayer (SML) is the ocean's uppermost boundary to the atmosphere and in control of climate relevant processes like gas exchange and emission of marine primary organic aerosols (POA). The SML represents a complex surface film including organic components like polysaccharides, proteins, and marine gel particles, and harbors diverse microbial communities. Despite the potential relevance of the SML in ocean‐atmosphere interactions, still little is known about its structural characteristics and sensitivity to a changing environment such as increased oceanic uptake of anthropogenic CO 2 . Here we report results of a large‐scale mesocosm study, indicating that ocean acidification can affect the abundance and activity of microorganisms during phytoplankton blooms, resulting in changes in composition and dynamics of organic matter in the SML. Our results reveal a potential coupling between anthropogenic CO 2 emissions and the biogenic properties of the SML, pointing to a hitherto disregarded feedback process between ocean and atmosphere under climate change.