Modeling Net Photosynthesis Based on Temperature and Light in Colonial Phaeocystis Antarctica Karsten

Abstract

The genus Phaeocystis plays an important role in polar ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles. It blooms frequently and when abundant often contributes more than 50% of the total phytoplankton biomass (1). When blooms of this organism do occur, they are often monospecific in nature or either codominate with very few other species. By nature of the size difference between the single cells (3–8 μm) and millimeter-sized colonies of its lifecycle, it may preferentially offer a food source to the microbial food web while in its single cell stage or alternatively to the traditional food web while in its colonial life stage. It may serve as a significant dissolved organic matter source through exudation or colonial lysis to the microbial food web.