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JPR Advance Access published online on November 14, 2007
Journal of Plankton Research, doi:10.1093/plankt/fbm085
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© The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Carbon isotopic composition of Trichodesmium spp. colonies off Bermuda: Effects of colony mass and season

Dan Tchernov

The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Science, P.O.B 469, zip code 88103, Eilat, Israel. Tel: 972-86360146/101 Email: dani{at}vms.huji.ac.il

Fred Lipschultz

Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, 17 Biological Lane, St. Georges, GE 01, BERMUDA. Tel: 441-297-1880 Email: fred.lipschultz{at}bios.edu Or flipschu{at}nsf.gov

Received on July 18, 2007; revised on October 8, 2007; accepted on November 6, 2007


  Abstract

Colonies of Trichodesmium spp. are conspicuous, macroscopic components of the life in tropical and subtropical oceans. The large size and the morphology of the colony raise questions regarding the mechanism of carbon supply for photosynthesis. Constraints on these mechanisms may be indicated by the stable carbon isotopic composition ({delta}13C) that reflects the balance between carbon supply and speciation, as well as the growth rate and colony size. The {delta}13C of Trichodesmium off Bermuda measured here revealed a strong correlation between size of individual colonies and season. The smallest colonies, 2 - 7 µg C colony–1, showed the lightest {delta}13C composition (~ -19{per thousand}), increasing to asymptotic values of~-12{per thousand} above 7 µg C colony–1. The average {delta}13C of the colonies was lightest immediately after the onset of stratification in the Sargasso Sea, gradually increasing by ~4{per thousand} to heavier values during the summer. We propose that the mass effect is due to increased use of HCO3– by the larger colonies whereas the seasonal influence may be related to changes in irradiance and pCO2 affecting the internal carbon cycling.

Key Words: Stable isotope • growth • Sargasso Sea • Physiology • Carbon cycling

Both authors contributed equally to this manuscript.

Communicating Editor: K. J. Flynn


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