A comparison of iron limitation of phytoplankton in natural oceanic waters and laboratory media conditioned with EDTA

• Published in: Marine chemistry Vol. 68; no. 4; pp. 335 - 346
• Main Authors: Gerringa, L.J.A, de Baar, H.J.W, Timmermans, K.R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.02.2000; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Algae; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; EDTA; Exact sciences and technology; External geophysics; Geochemistry; iron limitation; iron speciation; Marine; Mineralogy; Physical and chemical properties of sea water; Physics of the oceans; phytoplankton; Silicates; Water geochemistry; phytoplankton; iron speciation; iron limitation; EDTA; sea water; ligands; ferric iron; ferrous iron; concentration; speciation; hydrochemistry; iron; solubility; plankton; dissolved materials; biogenic effects; laboratory studies

The solubility of iron in oxic waters is so low that iron can be a limiting nutrient for phytoplankton growth in the open ocean. In order to mimic low iron concentrations in algal cultures, Ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) is commonly used. The presence of EDTA enables culture experiments to be pe...