The Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

2027 Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

January 12-15, 2027

Dust deposition drives diatom proliferation at the expense of carbon fixation efficiency in an CO2 elevated ocean
ID:635 Poster Presentation

2027-01-15 16:30 (China Standard Time)

Session:Session 56 - SOLAS-IGAC: Multidisciplinary perspectives on air-sea interactions and their impacts on coastal sustainability

Abstract
Extreme dust deposition and ocean acidification are intensifying under climate change, yet their combined impacts on marine carbon cycling remain poorly constrained. Here, we examined the physiological and biogeochemical responses of the diatom Skeletonema costatum to current and elevated CO2 (1000 ppm) conditions combined with low (2 mg L-1) and high (10 mg L-1) dust additions. Elevated CO2 alone promoted sustained growth by reducing investment in carbon-concentrating mechanisms and enhancing dissolved organic nitrogen utilization. In contrast, high dust addition under elevated CO2 maintained high cell densities but reduced cellular particulate organic carbon and nitrogen quotas by more than 50% relative to the elevated CO2 alone. Consequently, enhanced cell proliferation was no longer accompanied by proportional biomass accumulation, leading to a decline in per-cell carbon uptake efficiency to 34.8% of the elevated CO2 baseline. Transcriptomic analyses revealed that a dust-derived ammonium pulse reconfigured nitrogen acquisition pathways and redirected cellular resources toward rapid proliferation at the expense of lipid biosynthesis and carbon storage. The resulting carbon-depleted diatom biomass may be more prone to upper-ocean remineralization, thereby weakening the biological carbon pump. These findings suggest that extreme dust deposition in future acidified oceans does not necessarily enhance, and may even diminish carbon sequestration.
 
Speaker
Feng Shi Ocean University of China

Author
Feng Shi Ocean University of China

    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