Table of Contents

• Coverage
• Dataset Description
  • Methods & Sampling
  • Data Processing Description
• Data Files
• Related Publications
• Parameters
• Instruments
• Project Information
• Funding

Experimental setup:

The experiments were designed to test the combined effects of four temperatures, and eight light intensities on growth and photophysiology of the diatom T. pseudonana CCMP1335 in a multifactorial design. Four temperatures were tested: 15°C, 18°C, 22°C, and 26°C. Within each temperature, eight light levels were tested: 30, 40, 70,90,105,125,140 and 265 µmol photons · m-2 · s-1. All lights were set at a 12 h day: 12 h dark cycle. For logistical reasons, experiments were partially conducted in series.

Experiments were conducted in Multicultivator MC-1000 OD units (Photon Systems Instruments, Drasov, Czech Republic). Each unit consists of eight 85 ml test-tubes immersed in a thermostated water bath, each independently illuminated by an array of cool white LEDs set at specific intensity and timing. A 0.2µm filtered ambient air was bubbled through sterile artificial seawater, and the humidified air was supplied to each tube  Each experiment was split into two phases: An acclimation phase spanning 3 days, was used to acclimate cultures to their new environment. Pre-acclimated, exponentially-growing cultures were then inoculated into fresh media and incubated through a 4-day experimental phase during which assessments of growth, photophysiology, and nutrient cycling were carried out daily. All sampling started 6 hours into the daily light cycle to minimize effects of diurnal cycles.

Experiments were conducted with artificial seawater (ASW) prepared using previously described methods (Kester et. al 1967), and enriched with 50mL per liter of UV sterilized natural seawater and nitrate (NO3), phosphate (PO4), silicic acid (Si[OH]4), at levels ensuring that the cultures would remain nutrient-replete over the course of the experiment. Trace metals and vitamins were added as in f/2 (Guillard 1975). he pH of the growth media was measured spectrophometrically using the m-cresol purple method (Dickson 1993), and adjusted using 0.1N HCl or 0.1M NaOH.

Flow cytometry:

Samples were fixed in Hexamethylenetetramine-buffered formaldehyde (final concentration 1% v/v) and stored at 4°C in the dark for a maximum of 4 days. Cell counts were confirmed to be unaffected over storage for up to a week. Samples were analyzed on a Guava easyCyte HT Benchtop Flow Cytometer (Millipore-Sigma, USA). All data acquisitions were done with logarithmic signal amplification. Cytometer sample flow rates were kept low (0.24 µL · s-1) to accommodate high cell concentrations. Diatoms were identified based on size and chlorophyll autofluorescence using the forward scatter channel (FSC) and Red-FL (695/50 nm) channel respectively. Growth rates were derived by fitting an exponential curve to cell concentrations vs. time for a 48-hour period during which cells exhibited exponential growth in the experimental phase. Growth rates in treatments where cells did not grow, or declined in abundance were listed as 0. Particle sizes (equivalent spherical diameter in µm, ESD) were derived from FSC using size-calibration beads of known diameters ranging from 2 µm to 10 µm (Particle Size standard kit, Spherotech Inc.). 

Cell sizes varied between temperature treatments, which were conducted weeks apart for logistical reasons. Presumably cell size differences are thus due to differences in the overall lifecycle of the population and not a direct consequence of the temperature and irradiance regime.

BCO-DMO Processing Notes:
- data submitted in Excel file "BCODMO_Series 1B - 2_cellabund_size_4Aug2020.xlsx" sheets "Abundance_ExptPhase" and "CellSize_ExptPhase1" extracted to csv
- the two sheets were joined into a single table
- added conventional header with dataset name, PI name, version date
- renamed columns to conform with BCO-DMO naming conventions (removed units and special characters)

The overarching goal of this project is to develop a framework for understanding the response of phytoplankton to multiple environmental stresses. Marine phytoplankton, which are tiny algae, produce as much oxygen as terrestrial plants and provide food, directly or indirectly, to all marine animals. Their productivity is thus important both for global elemental cycles of oxygen and carbon, as well as for the productivity of the ocean. Globally the productivity of marine phytoplankton appears to be changing, but while we have some understanding of the response of phytoplankton to shifts in one environmental parameter at a time, like temperature, there is very little knowledge of their response to simultaneous changes in several parameters. Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations result in both ocean acidification and increased surface water temperatures. The latter in turn leads to greater ocean stratification and associated changes in light exposure and nutrient availability for the plankton. Recently it has become apparent that the response of phytoplankton to simultaneous changes in these growth parameters is not additive. For example, the effect of ocean acidification may be severe at one temperature-light combination and negligible at another. The researchers of this project will carry out experiments that will provide a theoretical understanding of the relevant interactions so that the impact of climate change on marine phytoplankton can be predicted in an informed way. This project will engage high schools students through training of a teacher and the development of a teaching unit. Undergraduate and graduate students will work directly on the research. A cartoon journalist will create a cartoon story on the research results to translate the findings to a broader general public audience.

Each phytoplankton species has the capability to acclimatize to changes in temperature, light, pCO2, and nutrient availability - at least within a finite range. However, the response of phytoplankton to multiple simultaneous stressors is frequently complex, because the effects on physiological responses are interactive. To date, no datasets exist for even a single species that could fully test the assumptions and implications of existing models of phytoplankton acclimation to multiple environmental stressors. The investigators will combine modeling analysis with laboratory experiments to investigate the combined influences of changes in pCO2, temperature, light, and nitrate availability on phytoplankton growth using cultures of open ocean and coastal diatom strains (Thalassiosira pseudonana) and an open ocean cyanobacteria species (Synechococcus sp.). The planned experiments represent ideal case studies of the complex and interactive effects of environmental conditions on organisms, and results will provide the basis for predictive modeling of the response of phytoplankton taxa to multiple environmental stresses.