Grazing experiment 4: Chlorophyll-a data for low-high pCO2 acclimated Rhodomonas sp. cultures from 2011-2016 (E Hux Response to pCO2 project)

Website: https://www.bco-dmo.org/dataset/664471
Data Type: experimental
Version:
Version Date: 2016-11-10

Project
» Planktonic interactions in a changing ocean: Biological responses of Emiliania huxleyi to elevated pCO2 and their effects on microzooplankton (E Hux Response to pCO2)
ContributorsAffiliationRole
Olson, Brady M.Western Washington University (WWU)Principal Investigator
Love, BrookeWestern Washington University (WWU)Co-Principal Investigator
Strom, SuzanneWestern Washington University (WWU)Co-Principal Investigator
Still, Kelly AnnWestern Washington University (WWU)Student
Copley, NancyWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI BCO-DMO)BCO-DMO Data Manager


Dataset Description

Related Reference: 
Still, Kelly Ann, Microzooplankton grazing, growth and gross growth efficiency are affected by pCO2 induced changes in phytoplankton biology. (Masters Thesis) Western Washington University. ​http://cedar.wwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1490&context=wwuet


Methods & Sampling

The phytoplankton Rhodomonas sp. CCMP 755 was grown semi-continuously in atmosphere controlled chambers at three different CO2 treatment concentrations; Ambient (400ppmv), Moderate (750ppmv), and High (1000ppmv). Cultures were diluted daily starting day 4 with pre-equilibrated media containing f/50 nutrients. Some of the culture removed was used to evaluate chemical parameters. For Chlorophyll a analysis 10 mls of each culture replicate was filtered onto a glass fiber filter. Filters were immediately folded and placed in test tubes containing 6 mls of 90% v/v acetone and stored at  -20 C for 24 hours. Samples were then warmed to room temperature in the dark, filters were removed and tubes were centrifuged before being analyzed on a Turner Designs Trilogy Fluorometer. Raw fluorescence pre- and post-addition of 10% HCL was used to calculate Chl a.

Chl a (µg/ml) = (K*Fm*ext.vol (ml)*(Fo-Fa))/ (L filtered-1)


Data Processing Description

These are unprocessed Chlorophyll data.

BCO-DMO Processing Notes:
- added conventional header with dataset name, PI name, version date
- modified parameter names to conform with BCO-DMO naming conventions
- nd (no data) was entered into all blank cells


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Data Files

File
expt4_Chla.csv
(Comma Separated Values (.csv), 2.58 KB)
MD5:34f4b77337762af130e88edeb7d1589c
Primary data file for dataset ID 664471

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Parameters

ParameterDescriptionUnits
sample_day_treatment_repsample identifier: treatment replicate that names the sample and the day of semi-continuous culture unitless
inst_kthe instrument sensitivity coefficient unitless
Fmfluorescence maximum obtained using pure Chl a standard unitless
filt_volfiltration volume of sample milliliters
extract_volthe amount of 90% acetone the filter was extracted in milliliters
Fothe raw fluorescence reading of the extract unitless
Fathe raw fluorescence reading of the acidified extract unitless
dilution_factordilution factor is used if the extract is diluted unitless
chla_ug_mlChlorophyll-a concentration micrograms/milliliter (ug/ml)
phaeoPhaeopigment concentration micrograms/milliliter (ug/ml)
cell_concentrationcell concentration on sample day per mil
chla_pg_cellcell concentration on sample day picograms/milliliter (pg/ml)


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Instruments

Dataset-specific Instrument Name
Turner Designs Trilogy Fluorometer
Generic Instrument Name
Fluorometer
Dataset-specific Description
Used to measure fluorescence.
Generic Instrument Description
A fluorometer or fluorimeter is a device used to measure parameters of fluorescence: its intensity and wavelength distribution of emission spectrum after excitation by a certain spectrum of light. The instrument is designed to measure the amount of stimulated electromagnetic radiation produced by pulses of electromagnetic radiation emitted into a water sample or in situ.


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Deployments

Lab_Olson_B

Website
Platform
WWU
Start Date
2011-03-31
End Date
2016-09-15
Description
laboratory experiments


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Project Information

Planktonic interactions in a changing ocean: Biological responses of Emiliania huxleyi to elevated pCO2 and their effects on microzooplankton (E Hux Response to pCO2)


Description from NSF award abstract:
The calcifying Haptophyte Emiliania huxleyi appears to be acutely sensitive to the rising concentration of ocean pCO2. Documented responses by E. huxleyi to elevated pCO2 include modifications to their calcification rate and cell size, malformation of coccoliths, elevated growth rates, increased organic carbon production, lowering of PIC:POC ratios, and elevated production of the active climate gas DMS. Changes in these parameters are mechanisms known to elicit alterations in grazing behavior by microzooplankton, the oceans dominant grazer functional group. The investigators hypothesize that modifications to the physiology and biochemistry of calcifying and non-calcifying Haptophyte Emiliania huxleyi in response to elevated pCO2 will precipitate alterations in microzooplankton grazing dynamics. To test this hypothesis, they will conduct controlled laboratory experiments where several strains of E. huxleyi are grown at several CO2 concentrations. After careful characterization of the biochemical and physiological responses of the E. huxleyi strains to elevated pCO2, they will provide these strains as food to several ecologically-important microzooplankton and document grazing dynamics. E. huxleyi is an ideal organism for the study of phytoplankton and microzooplankton responses to rising anthropogenic CO2, the effects of which in the marine environment are called ocean acidification; E. huxleyi is biogeochemically important, is well studied, numerous strains are in culture that exhibit variation in the parameters described above, and they are readily fed upon by ecologically important microzooplankton.

The implications of changes in microzooplankton grazing for carbon cycling, specifically CaCO3 export, DMS production, nutrient regeneration in surface waters, and carbon transfer between trophic levels are profound, as this grazing, to a large degree, regulates all these processes. E. huxleyi is a model prey organism because it is one of the most biogeochemically influential global phytoplankton. It forms massive seasonal blooms, contributes significantly to marine inorganic and organic carbon cycles, is a large producer of the climatically active gas DMS, and is a source of organic matter for trophic levels both above and below itself. The planned controlled study will increase our knowledge of the mechanisms that drive patterns of change between trophic levels, thus providing a wider array of tools necessary to understand the complex nature of ocean acidification field studies, where competing variables can confound precise interpretation.



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Funding

Funding SourceAward
NSF Division of Ocean Sciences (NSF OCE)

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