Breitbarth E, Bellerby RGJ, Neill CC, Ardelan MV, Meyerhofer M, Zollner E, Croot PL, Riebesell U
CO2 enrichment, mesocosm, Iron speciation, Bloom, Primary production, Raunefjord, Bergen, Norway, PEECE, 30 m3
Rising atmospheric CO2 is acidifying the surface ocean, a process which is expected to greatly influence the chemistry and biology of the future ocean. Following the development of iron-replete phytoplankton blooms in a coastal mesocosm experiment at 350, 700, and 1050 ?atm pCO2,we observed significant increases in dissolved iron concentrations,Fe(II) concentrations, and Fe(II) half-life times duringand after the peak of blooms in response to CO2 enrichmentand concomitant lowering of pH, suggesting increasediron bioavailability. If applicable to the open ocean this mayprovide a negative feedback mechanism to the rising atmosphericCO2 by stimulating marine primary production.