Ecological influences on {delta}¹³C of particulate matter in seasonally ice-covered Ryder Bay, Antarctica

Annett, A.L., Carson, D.S., Ganeshram, R.S. and Fallick, A.E. (2008) Ecological influences on {delta}¹³C of particulate matter in seasonally ice-covered Ryder Bay, Antarctica. In: International Symposium on Antarctic Earth Sciences, Santa Barbara, Calif., 26 Aug - 01 Sept 2007, p. 77.

Abstract

Carbon isotopes may be a useful paleoceanographic tool for reconstructing past pCO2 of surface water, but isotopic composition of particulate organic carbon has been shown in both field and laboratory studies to be affected by pCO2, growth rate, cell size, cell geometry, light availability, carbon metabolism and species composition. To date, field studies have not constrained the dominant factors controlling surface water {delta}¹³C_pOC. We present high-resolution time series data from a study in Ryder Bay, Antarctica, which compares seasonal fluctuations in mixed-layer {delta}₁₃C_pOC with detailed ecological and morphological analysis of phytoplankton communities, community productivity, {delta}¹³C_DIC, nutrient dynamics, and hydrographic parameters. Preliminary results indicate that physical processes such as ocean-atmosphere gas exchange and upwelling do not significantly affect {delta}¹³C_pOC signatures. In contrast, speciation shifts of diatom assemblages show strong correlation with changes in {delta} ¹³C_pOC signals, supporting recent suggestions that taxonomic data are necessary for confident interpretation of sedimentary {delta}¹³C records.

• Item Type: Conference Proceedings
• Additional Information: Publication of printed papers is the by National Academies Press and publication of electronic media is by the U.S. Geological Survey
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Fallick, Professor Anthony
• Authors: Annett, A.L., Carson, D.S., Ganeshram, R.S., and Fallick, A.E.
• Subjects: Q Science > QE Geology; G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
• Journal Name: US Geological Survey
• Publisher: US Geological Society and the National Academies
• ISSN: 0196-1497

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