Open AccessNitrogen isotopic relationship between diatom‐bound and bulk organic matter of cultured polar diatoms
Author(s) -
Horn Matthew G.,
Robinson Rebecca S.,
Rynearson Tatiana A.,
Sigman Daniel M.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
paleoceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1944-9186
pISSN - 0883-8305
DOI - 10.1029/2010pa002080
Subject(s) - diatom , nitzschia , phytoplankton , biology , oceanography , environmental chemistry , botany , chemistry , nutrient , geology , ecology
Using batch cultures, the 15 N/ 14 N (hereafter δ 15 N) of diatom‐bound organic matter was measured and compared to the δ 15 N of total diatom biomass during the progressive consumption of a nitrate pool in four polar diatom species ( Fragilariopsis cylindrus , Fragilariopsis kerguelensis , Pseudo‐nitzschia seriata , and Thalassiosira nordenskioeldii ) and one temperate species ( Thalassiosira aestivalis ). In general, the δ 15 N of the dissolved nitrate in seawater was greater than that of the biomass, which was greater than that of the diatom‐bound N. Rayleigh‐type relationships were observed, allowing for estimation of the isotope effect (ɛ) for each species, with a range from 1.0‰ to 14.0‰ across all species. For all cultured strains, the δ 15 N values of the diatom‐bound ( δ 15 N DB ) fraction was lower than those of the total diatom biomass ( δ 15 N biomass ). The isotopic offset between the biomass and diatom‐bound N ( δ 15 N DBoffset = δ 15 N biomass − δ 15 N DB ) was relatively constant along the growth curve for each individual species but varied among species, with a range of 1.9‰–11.2‰. Weak relationships were determined when ɛ and the δ 15 N DBoffset were compared to cellular size and surface area:volume ratio. More significantly, with the exception of Pseudo‐nitzschia seriata , a strong positive relationship was found between ɛ and δ 15 N DBoffset . While the culture data indicate a positive δ 15 N DBoffset across all studied diatom species, surface sediment data suggest a negative δ 15 N DBoffset for sedimentary assemblages. This indicates that either (1) the growth conditions of our cultures had some effect on δ 15 N DBoffset or (2) a low‐ δ 15 N component of the N that we measure as diatom frustule–bound is lost during early diagenesis. Given documented assemblage changes, our culture data for relevant species do not suggest that the higher δ 15 N DB observed in the Antarctic during ice ages can be explained by species related changes in the sedimentary bulk‐to‐diatom‐bound isotopic difference. Future work on the diatom‐bound material in cultured diatoms grown under in situ nutrient conditions, analysis of sediment trap and net tow material, and frustule dissolution experiments will more completely assess this paleoproxy.