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The phytoplankton communities in the open oceans are dominated by picophytoplankton (0.7-2µm) and nanophytoplankton (3-5µm). Studying the community dynamics of these phytoplankton is important to learn about their role in the carbon cycle and food web of the oceans. Dilution experiments were used, along with microscopy and molecular techniques, to determine abundance, biomass and phytoplankton growth and grazing rates in the oligotrophic Sargasso Sea (western North Atlantic subtropical gyre) around the Bermuda Atlantic Time Series Station (BATS) in the summer of 2012. With low biomass and chlorophyll a, the Sargasso Sea appears to be unproductive at first glance, but I found that pico- and nanophytoplankton have high instantaneous growth rates that are balanced by the high grazing rates of microzooplankton.
Mesoscale eddies are important features in the Sargasso Sea that can increase or decrease the available nutrients in the euphotic zone. Two different mesoscale eddies were sampled: an anti-cyclonic eddy and the BATS station which was located at the edge of a cyclonic eddy. The results indicated that BATS had overall higher instantaneous growth (µ between 0.1 d-1 and 3.7 d-1) and grazing rates on pico- and nanophytoplankton, as well as diatoms, compared to the anti-cyclonic eddy (µ between 0.2 d-1 and 3 d-1). I also determined taxon-specific rates using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for the order Mamiellales, one of the smallest representatives of the abundant prasinophytes. This method yielded surprisingly high growth (9.7 d-1 ) and grazing rates (-8.2 d-1) at 80m for BATS. The euphotic zone (~100m) integrated biomass of all phytoplankton did not vary significantly between BATS (379 mg C m-2) and the anti-cyclonic eddy (408 mg C m-2) and the net growth rates at both locations were very close to zero for most of the groups. Although the biomass and net growth rates did not vary greatly between the two locations, the high instantaneous growth and grazing rates of pico- and nano-eukaryotic phytoplankton indicate an increase in the rate of the marine microbial food web, or microbial loop, compared to the anti-cyclonic eddy. This could have been due to the input of new nutrients in the edge of the cyclonic eddy at BATS. Thus, my study suggests that mesoscale variability is of considerable importance for the dynamics of the phytoplankton community and their role in the microbial loop. Much can be learned when using DNA based taxon-specific rates, especially to understand the relative importance and contribution of specific taxa.
More taxon-specific molecular studies will have to be carried out to quantify specific rates of more phytoplankton groups, which will supply a more complete knowledge of phytoplankton community dynamics in the Sargasso Sea. This will increase our understanding of the role of specific groups to the biological carbon dynamics in the euphotic zone into the deep ocean.
Mesoscale eddies are important features in the Sargasso Sea that can increase or decrease the available nutrients in the euphotic zone. Two different mesoscale eddies were sampled: an anti-cyclonic eddy and the BATS station which was located at the edge of a cyclonic eddy. The results indicated that BATS had overall higher instantaneous growth (µ between 0.1 d-1 and 3.7 d-1) and grazing rates on pico- and nanophytoplankton, as well as diatoms, compared to the anti-cyclonic eddy (µ between 0.2 d-1 and 3 d-1). I also determined taxon-specific rates using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for the order Mamiellales, one of the smallest representatives of the abundant prasinophytes. This method yielded surprisingly high growth (9.7 d-1 ) and grazing rates (-8.2 d-1) at 80m for BATS. The euphotic zone (~100m) integrated biomass of all phytoplankton did not vary significantly between BATS (379 mg C m-2) and the anti-cyclonic eddy (408 mg C m-2) and the net growth rates at both locations were very close to zero for most of the groups. Although the biomass and net growth rates did not vary greatly between the two locations, the high instantaneous growth and grazing rates of pico- and nano-eukaryotic phytoplankton indicate an increase in the rate of the marine microbial food web, or microbial loop, compared to the anti-cyclonic eddy. This could have been due to the input of new nutrients in the edge of the cyclonic eddy at BATS. Thus, my study suggests that mesoscale variability is of considerable importance for the dynamics of the phytoplankton community and their role in the microbial loop. Much can be learned when using DNA based taxon-specific rates, especially to understand the relative importance and contribution of specific taxa.
More taxon-specific molecular studies will have to be carried out to quantify specific rates of more phytoplankton groups, which will supply a more complete knowledge of phytoplankton community dynamics in the Sargasso Sea. This will increase our understanding of the role of specific groups to the biological carbon dynamics in the euphotic zone into the deep ocean.
ContributorsHamill, Demetra Scott (Author) / Neuer, Susanne (Thesis director) / Elser, Jim (Committee member) / De Martini, Francesca (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor)
Created2013-05
ContributorsBuettner, Marie (Author) / Solis, Forrest (Thesis director) / Broglio, Ronald (Committee member) / School of Art (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Art (Painting) (Contributor)
Created2021-12
ContributorsBuettner, Marie (Author) / Solis, Forrest (Thesis director) / Broglio, Ronald (Committee member) / School of Art (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Art (Painting) (Contributor)
Created2021-12
ContributorsBuettner, Marie (Author) / Solis, Forrest (Thesis director) / Broglio, Ronald (Committee member) / School of Art (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Art (Painting) (Contributor)
Created2021-12
Description
The Lovely Co. is a comprehensive business plan that is an all inclusive service for newly engaged couples. This company has been created to fill a void in the wedding planning industry of a one-stop-shop. The goal of The Lovely Co. is to take away the stress that comes along with planning a wedding/events. This project has all aspects of a start up business including: website, social media platforms, business cards, pamphlets, budget, and employee's. We hope you have a "Lovely" time learning more about The Lovely Co.
ContributorsDeMayo, Sydney (Author) / Bonfiglio, Thomas (Thesis director) / LaRosa, Julia (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Art (Contributor) / Department of Marketing (Contributor) / School of Community Resources and Development (Contributor)
Created2023-05
Description
The Lovely Co. is a comprehensive business plan that is an all inclusive service for newly engaged couples. This company has been created to fill a void in the wedding planning industry of a one-stop-shop. The goal of The Lovely Co. is to take away the stress that comes along with planning a wedding/events. This project has all aspects of a start up business including: website, social media platforms, business cards, pamphlets, budget, and employee's. We hope you have a "Lovely" time learning more about The Lovely Co.
ContributorsDeMayo, Sydney (Author) / Bonfiglio, Thomas (Thesis director) / LaRosa, Julia (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Art (Contributor) / Department of Marketing (Contributor) / School of Community Resources and Development (Contributor)
Created2023-05
ContributorsOrtiz, Elizabeth (Author) / Lee, Nicole (Thesis director) / Ball, Becky (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Social and Behavioral Sciences (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor)
Created2023-05
ContributorsAhearne, Matthew (Author) / Meirelles, Rodrigo (Thesis director) / Scott, Jason (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Art (Contributor) / School of Social Transformation (Contributor) / The Sidney Poitier New American Film School (Contributor)
Created2023-05
ContributorsJoiner, Jae (Author) / Kim, Sujin (Thesis director) / Lawson, Shawn (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (Contributor) / School of Art (Contributor)
Created2023-05
ContributorsJoiner, Jae (Author) / Kim, Sujin (Thesis director) / Lawson, Shawn (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (Contributor) / School of Art (Contributor)
Created2023-05