View in EDS

Microcosm experiments reveal source‐specific impacts of atmospheric aerosols on plankton communities and organic matter in the sea surface microlayer.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Microcosm experiments reveal source‐specific impacts of atmospheric aerosols on plankton communities and organic matter in the sea surface microlayer.
Authors: Milinković, Andrea1 (AUTHOR), Penezić, Abra1 (AUTHOR), Kušan, Ana Cvitešić1 (AUTHOR), Bakija Alempijević, Saranda1 (AUTHOR), Žužul, Silva2 (AUTHOR), Skejić, Sanda3 (AUTHOR), Šantić, Danijela3 (AUTHOR), Godec, Ranka2 (AUTHOR), Godrijan, Jelena1 (AUTHOR), Gašparović, Blaženka1 (AUTHOR), Striebel, Maren4 (AUTHOR), Niggemann, Jutta4 (AUTHOR), Ribas‐Ribas, Mariana4 (AUTHOR), Wurl, Oliver4 (AUTHOR), Frka, Sanja1 (AUTHOR) frka@irb.hr
Source: Limnology & Oceanography. May2026, Vol. 71 Issue 5, p1-13. 13p.
Subjects: Sea surface microlayer, Plankton populations, Organic compounds, Atmospheric aerosols, Ecological impact, Ocean-atmosphere interaction, Poisons
Abstract: The impact of atmospheric deposition on marine ecosystems requires consideration of the interfacial processes within the sea surface microlayer, the uppermost layer at the air–sea interface. This study examines the impact of anthropogenic and biomass burning aerosol particles on the plankton community structure and organic matter accumulation in the system derived from in situ‐collected microlayer compared to the underlying water through a 4‐day microcosm experiment conducted in August 2020 in the Central Adriatic area. Realistic aerosol additions (1 mg L−1) had different impacts on surface layers, revealing complex interactions between nutrient availability, toxicity, and plankton competition. A sudden nutrient supply, particularly of nitrogen, favored larger phytoplankton, while other aerosol constituents, such as trace metals and carbonaceous compounds, likely had a toxic effect, particularly on smaller species. The neuston in the microlayer showed greater sensitivity to pollutants, possibly due to higher UV exposure enhancing toxicity compared to the underlying water counterparts. Shifts in neuston diversity promoted the accumulation of organic carbon and surfactants in the microlayer, with potential implications for suppressing the air–sea CO2 exchange. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Limnology & Oceanography is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
Description
Abstract:The impact of atmospheric deposition on marine ecosystems requires consideration of the interfacial processes within the sea surface microlayer, the uppermost layer at the air–sea interface. This study examines the impact of anthropogenic and biomass burning aerosol particles on the plankton community structure and organic matter accumulation in the system derived from in situ‐collected microlayer compared to the underlying water through a 4‐day microcosm experiment conducted in August 2020 in the Central Adriatic area. Realistic aerosol additions (1 mg L−1) had different impacts on surface layers, revealing complex interactions between nutrient availability, toxicity, and plankton competition. A sudden nutrient supply, particularly of nitrogen, favored larger phytoplankton, while other aerosol constituents, such as trace metals and carbonaceous compounds, likely had a toxic effect, particularly on smaller species. The neuston in the microlayer showed greater sensitivity to pollutants, possibly due to higher UV exposure enhancing toxicity compared to the underlying water counterparts. Shifts in neuston diversity promoted the accumulation of organic carbon and surfactants in the microlayer, with potential implications for suppressing the air–sea CO2 exchange. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:00243590
DOI:10.1002/lno.70383