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Microbial carbon fixation in past and future high CO2 oceans
Program coordinator(s): Prof. dr. J.J. Middelburg
Theme(s): 1 , 2
Funding date: 10-jul-07

Abstract
Atmospheric CO2 levels have fluctuated from <200 to >3000 ppm during the Phanaerozoic, increased from 280 to 380 ppm during the Anthropocene and will reise further to 500-1250 ppm at 2100 depending on the socio-economic scenario. Increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations will not only lead to global warming, but also to ocean acidification because CO2 penetrates into the ocean and will lower pH. Marine microbes account for about 50% of global primary production and it is thus pertinent to understand the impact of high CO2 and low pH on marine microbes. In this Darwin program, we propose to study the direct and indirect effects of high CO2 on the functioning of marine microbes in the present, past and future oceans. The interactions of zinc, iron and high CO2 will be studied for selected phytoplankton groups form polar ecosystems. The effects of high CO2 on the elemental stoichiometry and carbon processing by natural plankton communicates comprising algae, bacteria and archeaa will be investigated. Material form these experimental studies will be used to develop and calibrate new proxies for CO2 and pH based on the lipid composition of marine microbes. These new proxies will be used to reconstruct the changes in marine microbial communities during the Paleocene-Eocene, a period of rapid oceanic acidification.

This program contains the following projects:
2061: Interactions of Zinc, Iron and CO2 system with Polar Oceans Plankton in a High-CO2 world
2062: Carbon acquisition, allocation and processing by plankton in a high CO2 world
2063: Impact of CO2 concentrations and pH on marine microbial membrane lipids

Publications
de Kluijver, A., Soetaert, K., Schulz, K. G., Riebesell, U., Bellerby, R. G. J., and Middelburg, J. J (2010). Carbon fluxes in natural plankton communities under elevated CO2 levels: a stable isotope labeling study. Biogeosciences Discussions7 (3): 3257-3295.
Darwin Center authors: de Kluijver A., Middelburg J.J., Soetaert K. E. R.

Petra L. Schoon, Appy Sluijs, Jaap S. Sinninghe Damsté and Stefan Schouten (2011). Stable carbon isotope patterns of marine biomarker lipids in the Arctic Ocean during Eocene Thermal Maximum 2. PALEOCEANOGRAPHYVOL. 26:
Darwin Center authors: Schoon P. L., Schouten S., Sinninghe Damsté J. S., Sluijs A.

Hoogstraten, A., Peters, M., Timmermans, K. R., and de Baar, H. J. W (2011). Combined effects of inorganic carbon and light on Phaeocystis globosa Scherffel (Prymnesiophyceae). Biogeosciences Discuss8: 12353-12380.
Darwin Center authors: de Baar H. J. W., Hoogstraten A.

Anna de Kluijver (2012). Carbon flows in natural plankton communities in the Anthropocene.
Darwin Center authors: de Kluijver A.

Hoogstraten, A., Peters, M., Timmermans, K.R., De Baar, H.J.W (2012). Combined effects of inorganic carbon and light on Phaeocystis globosa Scherffel (Prymnesiophyceae). Biogeosciences9: 1885-1896.
Darwin Center authors: de Baar H. J. W., Hoogstraten A.

Hoogstraten, A., Timmermans, K.R., de Baar, H.J.W (2012). Morphological and physiological effects in proboscia alata (bacillariophyceae) grown under different light and co2 conditions of the modern southern ocean. Journal of Phycology48: 559-568.
Darwin Center authors: de Baar H. J. W., Hoogstraten A.

Petra L. Schoon, Anna de Kluijver, Jack J. Middelburg, John A. Downing, Jaap S. Sinninghe Damsté, Stefan Schouten (2013). Influence of lake water pH and alkalinity on the distribution of core and intact polar branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGTs) in lakes. Organic Geochemistry60: 72-82.
Darwin Center authors: de Kluijver A., Middelburg J.J., Schoon P. L., Schouten S., Sinninghe Damsté J. S.

Petra L. Schoon, Claus Heilmann-Clausen, Bo Pagh Schultz, Appy Sluijs, Jaap S. Sinninghe Damsté, Stefan Schouten (2013). Recognition of Early Eocene global carbon isotope excursions using lipids of marine Thaumarchaeota. Earth and Planetary Science Letters373: 160-168.
Darwin Center authors: Schoon P. L., Schouten S., Sinninghe Damsté J. S., Sluijs A.

P. L. Schoon (2013). Impact of CO2 and pH on the stable carbon isotopic composition and distribution of microbial biomarker lipids..
Darwin Center authors: Schoon P. L.

A. de Kluijver, K. Soetaert, J. Czerny, K. G. Schulz, T. Boxhammer, U. Riebesell, and J. J. Middelburg (2013). A 13C labelling study on carbon fluxes in Arctic plankton communities under elevated CO2 levels. Biogeosciences10: 1425-1440.
Darwin Center authors: de Kluijver A., Middelburg J.J., Soetaert K. E. R.

Schoon P. L., Heilmann-Clausen C., Schultz B. P., Sinninghe Damsté J. S., Schouten S. (2015). Warming and environmental changes in the eastern North Sea Basin during the Palaeocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum as revealed by biomarker lipids.. Org. Geochem.78: 79-88.
Darwin Center authors: Schoon P. L., Schouten S., Sinninghe Damsté J. S.

Schoon, P.L.; Heilmann-Clausen, C.; Schultz, B.P.; Sinninghe Damsté, J.S.; Schouten, S. (2015). Warming and environmental changes in the eastern North Sea Basin during the Palaeocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum as revealed by biomarker lipids.. Org. Geochem.78: 79-88.
Darwin Center authors: Schoon P. L., Schouten S., Sinninghe Damsté J. S.