Flexible C : N ratio enhances metabolism of large phytoplankton when resource supply is intermittent

Phytoplankton cell size influences particle sinking rate, food web interactions and biogeographical distributions. We present a model in which the uptake, storage and assimilation of nitrogen and carbon are explicitly resolved in different-sized phytoplankton cells. In the model, metabolism and cell...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Blackford, J. (Author), Hardman-Mountford, N. J. (Author), Polimene, L. (Author), Geider, R. J. (Author), Talmy, David (Contributor), Follows, Michael J. (Contributor)
Other Authors: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences (Contributor)
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus GmbH, 2014-10-15T12:40:03Z.
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Online Access:Get fulltext
LEADER 02421 am a22002533u 4500
001 90934
042 |a dc 
100 1 0 |a Blackford, J.  |e author 
100 1 0 |a Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences  |e contributor 
100 1 0 |a Talmy, David  |e contributor 
100 1 0 |a Follows, Michael J.  |e contributor 
700 1 0 |a Hardman-Mountford, N. J.  |e author 
700 1 0 |a Polimene, L.  |e author 
700 1 0 |a Geider, R. J.  |e author 
700 1 0 |a Talmy, David  |e author 
700 1 0 |a Follows, Michael J.  |e author 
245 0 0 |a Flexible C : N ratio enhances metabolism of large phytoplankton when resource supply is intermittent 
260 |b Copernicus GmbH,   |c 2014-10-15T12:40:03Z. 
856 |z Get fulltext  |u http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/90934 
520 |a Phytoplankton cell size influences particle sinking rate, food web interactions and biogeographical distributions. We present a model in which the uptake, storage and assimilation of nitrogen and carbon are explicitly resolved in different-sized phytoplankton cells. In the model, metabolism and cellular C : N ratio are influenced by the accumulation of carbon polymers such as carbohydrate and lipid, which is greatest when cells are nutrient starved, or exposed to high light. Allometric relations and empirical data sets are used to constrain the range of possible C : N, and indicate that larger cells can accumulate significantly more carbon storage compounds than smaller cells. When forced with extended periods of darkness combined with brief exposure to saturating irradiance, the model predicts organisms large enough to accumulate significant carbon reserves may on average synthesize protein and other functional apparatus up to five times faster than smaller organisms. The advantage of storage in terms of average daily protein synthesis rate is greatest when modeled organisms were previously nutrient starved, and carbon storage reservoirs saturated. Small organisms may therefore be at a disadvantage in terms of average daily growth rate in environments that involve prolonged periods of darkness and intermittent nutrient limitation. We suggest this mechanism is a significant constraint on phytoplankton C : N variability and cell size distribution in different oceanic regimes. 
520 |a Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (Grant GBMF3778) 
546 |a en_US 
655 7 |a Article 
773 |t Biogeosciences