The Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

2027 Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

January 12-15, 2027

Variability in Single Cell Phytoplankton Quotas across Strong Biogeochemical Gradients in the Southern Ocean, measured by Laser Ablation-ICP-TOFMS.
ID:228 Invited Oral Presentation

2027-01-13 16:35 (China Standard Time)

Session: Session 8 - Trace metal biogeochemical cycles in the ocean

Abstract
Phytoplankton, the dominant primary producers in the global ocean, are essential to oceanic nutrient cycling but the impact of climate change on the interactions between phytoplankton and biogeochemical cycles are uncertain. As for all biological material, phytoplankton require an array of macronutrient elements, such as C, N, P, and S, and an extended suite of trace metal micronutrients required as cofactors/coenzymes that regulate essential photosynthetic and metabolic pathways, including Fe, Zn, Mn, Ni, Cu, Co, Se, and Mo. Trace metal cellular inventories, or quotas, have been shown to vary over orders of magnitude both between key taxa, and within taxonomic groups between ocean basins and across biogeochemical gradients, but the methodologies used to date are hampered by throughput. Here we apply a high-throughput correlative multimodal imaging pipeline to quantify single cell element quotas of natural marine phytoplankton using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-time of flight mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-TOFMS). Surface samples were taken along meridional transects in the E. Pacific and E. Atlantic sub-Antarctic zones of the Southern Ocean. These transects encompassed strong biogeochemical gradients (NO3- 25 to 0.0µM, PO43- 1.7 to 0.1µM, SiO2 61 to 0.7µM, SST 0.3 to 24.2oC, Chl-a 3.2 to 0.06µg/L), including transitions from Fe-limited Southern Ocean waters to N-limited subtropical regimes, as well as regions of Fe–Mn co-limitation associated with major productivity along the Polar Front. Resolving the variability in trace metal single cell stoichiometry within natural phytoplankton assemblages over greater spatial and temporal scales is crucial to better model primary production and biogeochemical cycling into the future under different climate forcing scenarios.
 
Speaker
Joe Furby University of Southampton

Author
Joe Furby University of Southampton

    Important Dates

    • Jan 30

      2026

      Session / Event proposals open

    • Mar 31

      2026

      Session / Event proposals close
      (Extended to April 7)

    • Apr 30

      2026

      Session acceptance notifications

    • Apr 30

      2026

      Abstract submissions & registration open

    • Jun 30

      2026

      Abstract submissions close
      (Extended to July 21)

    • Aug 31

      2026

      Abstract acceptance notifications

    • Sep 15

      2026

      Scientific program released

    • Oct 15

      2026

      Early bird registration closes

    • Jan 12–15

      2027

      XMAS 2027