The effect of seawater CO2 concentration on growth of a natural phytoplankton assemblage in a controlled mesocosm experiment

Abstract

We examine the effects of seawater PCO2 concentration of 25, 41, and 76 kPa (250, 400, and 750 mu atm) on the growth rate of a natural assemblage of mixed phytoplankton obtained from a carefully controlled, 14-d mesocosm experiment. Throughout the experiment period, in all enclosures, two phytoplankton taxa (microflagellates and cryptomonads) and two diatom species (Skeletonema costatum and Nitzschia spp.) account for approximately 90% of the phytoplankton community. During the nutrient-replete period from day 9 to day 14 populations of Skeletonema costatum and Nitzschia spp. increased substantially; however, only Skeletonema costatum showed an increase in growth rate with increasing seawater pCO(2). Not all diatom species in Korean coastal waters are sensitive to seawater pCO(2) under nutrient-replete conditions.