Award: OCE-2022597

The ocean absorbs a large fraction of the carbon dioxide released to the atmosphere and plays a major role in regulating Earth’s climate. This project studied how microscopic marine plants, called phytoplankton, store and transfer carbon in the form of fats. While fats are well known as energy storage molecules in plants and animals on land, their importance in the ocean had not been well understood.

This research focused on a specific class of fats known as triacylglycerols. Using samples collected during three research cruises—to the Gulf of Maine, the Oregon coast, and the Sargasso Sea near Bermuda—we measured how quickly phytoplankton produce these fats in surface waters and what happens to them over daily cycles and as particles sink into the deep ocean. The project combined ship-based sampling with advanced laboratory techniques to track the movement of carbon through marine ecosystems.

The results show that fats are produced rapidly by phytoplankton and represent a substantial fraction of the carbon and energy created during photosynthesis. The balance between fat production and other forms of energy storage, such as carbohydrates, varies across ocean environments and depends on environmental conditions like nutrient availability and overall biological productivity. These findings improve understanding of how carbon is packaged into different chemical forms and how efficiently it can be transferred from the surface ocean to depth, where it can be stored for long periods of time.

Beyond advancing basic knowledge, this project contributed to training and workforce development. The award supported four doctoral students in the MIT–WHOI Joint Program in Oceanography/Applied Science and Engineering, providing hands-on experience at sea, in the laboratory, and in data analysis. Two students have completed their degrees and are now working in oceanographic research, while two others are progressing toward graduation. The project also supported undergraduate and early-career researchers, helping them gain practical skills and exposure to scientific research.

Project findings were shared through peer-reviewed scientific publications and presentations at national and international meetings. Overall, this work improves understanding of the ocean’s role in the global carbon cycle, contributes knowledge relevant to climate change research, and helps train the next generation of scientists and technical professionals.

Last Modified: 01/11/2026
Modified by: Benjamin Van Mooy