Variable elemental stoichiometry is essential for ocean biogeochemistry. Led by Alli Moreno (former Ph.D. student, now at UCLA), we showed that the carbon-to-oxygen ratio varies systematically between ocean biomes in the Atlantic Ocean. This spatial variability can cause a +20% higher oxygen demand for the same Carbon flux, which has important implications for future climate change and ocean deoxygenation.
This study shows a clear latitudinal gradient in the carbon-to-oxygen ratio, with higher ratios in the warm, low-nutrient biomes but lower beyond the subtropical fronts.
The study emphasizes the value of integrating ‘omics measurements with biogeochemistry. ‘omics can provide a wealth of information about plankton biodiversity and physiology. Here, ‘omics allowed us to determine if plankton were N vs. P stressed.
Beyond the latitudinal gradient, we observed a much higher carbon-to-oxygen ratio in N compared to P-limited regions. We speculate that phytoplankton somehow accumulates more lipids when N is stressed.
Allison Moreno, Alyse Larkin, Jenna Lee, Skylar Gerace from UCI, and Glen Tarran did a fabulous job collecting the samples on AMT28, plus all the work analyzing the samples.
Here is the link to the artcie.
