View in EDS HTML Full Text PDF Full Text

Biogeochemical dynamics of the sea-surface microlayer in a multidisciplinary mesocosm study.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Biogeochemical dynamics of the sea-surface microlayer in a multidisciplinary mesocosm study.
Authors: Bibi, Riaz1 (AUTHOR) riaz.bibi@uol.de, Ribas-Ribas, Mariana1 (AUTHOR), Jaeger, Leonie1 (AUTHOR), Lehners, Carola1 (AUTHOR), Gassen, Lisa1 (AUTHOR), Cortés-Espinoza, Edgar Fernando1 (AUTHOR), Wollschläger, Jochen1 (AUTHOR), Thölen, Claudia1 (AUTHOR), Waska, Hannelore1 (AUTHOR), Zöbelein, Jasper1 (AUTHOR), Brinkhoff, Thorsten1 (AUTHOR), Athale, Isha1 (AUTHOR), Röttgers, Rüdiger2 (AUTHOR), Novak, Michael2 (AUTHOR), Engel, Anja3 (AUTHOR), Barthelmeß, Theresa3 (AUTHOR), Karnatz, Josefine3 (AUTHOR), Reinthaler, Thomas4 (AUTHOR), Spriahailo, Dmytro4 (AUTHOR), Friedrichs, Gernot5 (AUTHOR)
Source: Biogeosciences. 2025, Vol. 22 Issue 23, p7563-7589. 27p.
Subject Terms: *Sea surface microlayer, *Algal blooms, *Ecological assessment, *Climate change forecasts, *Organic compounds, *Bacterial communities, *Nutrient cycles, *Ocean-atmosphere interaction
Abstract: The sea-surface microlayer (SML) represents the thin uppermost layer of the ocean, typically less than 1000 µm in thickness. As an interface between the ocean and the atmosphere, the SML plays a key role in marine biogeochemical cycles. Its physical and chemical properties are intrinsically linked to the dynamics of the surface ocean's biological communities, especially those of phytoplankton and phytoneuston. These properties, in turn, influence air–sea interactions, such as heat and gas exchange, which are modulated by the interaction between organic matter composition and surfactants in the SML and the underlying water (ULW). However, the dynamic coupling of biogeochemical processes between the SML and the ULW remains poorly understood. To contribute to filling this knowledge gap, we conducted a multidisciplinary mesocosm study at the Center for Marine Sensor Technology (ZfMarS), Institute of Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Wilhelmshaven, Germany. In this study, we induced a phytoplankton bloom and observed the subsequent community shift to investigate the effects on the SML biogeochemistry. Samples were collected daily to analyse inorganic nutrients, phytopigments, surfactants, dissolved and particulate organic carbon (DOC, POC), total dissolved and particulate nitrogen (TDN, PN), phytoplankton and bacterial abundances, and bacterial utilisation of organic matter. A clear temporal segregation of nutrient samples in the SML and ULW was observed through a self-organising map (SOM) analysis. Phytoplankton bloom progression throughout the mesocosm experiment was classified into three phases: pre-bloom, bloom, and post-bloom based on Chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentration. Chl a concentration varied from 1.0 to 11.4 µg L−1. POC and PN followed the Chl a trend. Haptophytes, specifically Emiliania huxleyi, dominated the phytoplankton community, followed by diatoms, primarily Cylindrotheca closterium. An enrichment of surfactants and DOC was observed after the bloom. During the bloom, a distinct surface slick with complete surfactant coverage of the air–sea interface created a biofilm-like habitat in the SML, leading to increased bacterial cell abundance. The bacterial community utilised amino acids as the preferred carbon source, followed by carbohydrates in both water layers. Our findings highlight that the SML is a biogeochemical reactor, playing a crucial role in the production, transformation, and microbial activity of autochthonous organic matter, thus exhibiting the potential to strongly affect air–sea exchange. Incorporating SML dynamics into Earth system models will enhance climate predictions and improve ocean-atmosphere interaction studies on both regional and global scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database: Energy & Power Source
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: enr
DbLabel: Energy & Power Source
An: 190253665
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Biogeochemical dynamics of the sea-surface microlayer in a multidisciplinary mesocosm study.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bibi%2C+Riaz%22">Bibi, Riaz</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> riaz.bibi@uol.de</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ribas-Ribas%2C+Mariana%22">Ribas-Ribas, Mariana</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jaeger%2C+Leonie%22">Jaeger, Leonie</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lehners%2C+Carola%22">Lehners, Carola</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gassen%2C+Lisa%22">Gassen, Lisa</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cortés-Espinoza%2C+Edgar Fernando%22">Cortés-Espinoza, Edgar Fernando</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wollschläger%2C+Jochen%22">Wollschläger, Jochen</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Thölen%2C+Claudia%22">Thölen, Claudia</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Waska%2C+Hannelore%22">Waska, Hannelore</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zöbelein%2C+Jasper%22">Zöbelein, Jasper</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Brinkhoff%2C+Thorsten%22">Brinkhoff, Thorsten</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Athale%2C+Isha%22">Athale, Isha</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Röttgers%2C+Rüdiger%22">Röttgers, Rüdiger</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Novak%2C+Michael%22">Novak, Michael</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Engel%2C+Anja%22">Engel, Anja</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Barthelmeß%2C+Theresa%22">Barthelmeß, Theresa</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Karnatz%2C+Josefine%22">Karnatz, Josefine</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Reinthaler%2C+Thomas%22">Reinthaler, Thomas</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Spriahailo%2C+Dmytro%22">Spriahailo, Dmytro</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Friedrichs%2C+Gernot%22">Friedrichs, Gernot</searchLink><relatesTo>5</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Biogeosciences%22">Biogeosciences</searchLink>. 2025, Vol. 22 Issue 23, p7563-7589. 27p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sea+surface+microlayer%22">Sea surface microlayer</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Algal+blooms%22">Algal blooms</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ecological+assessment%22">Ecological assessment</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Climate+change+forecasts%22">Climate change forecasts</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Organic+compounds%22">Organic compounds</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Bacterial+communities%22">Bacterial communities</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nutrient+cycles%22">Nutrient cycles</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ocean-atmosphere+interaction%22">Ocean-atmosphere interaction</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The sea-surface microlayer (SML) represents the thin uppermost layer of the ocean, typically less than 1000 µm in thickness. As an interface between the ocean and the atmosphere, the SML plays a key role in marine biogeochemical cycles. Its physical and chemical properties are intrinsically linked to the dynamics of the surface ocean's biological communities, especially those of phytoplankton and phytoneuston. These properties, in turn, influence air–sea interactions, such as heat and gas exchange, which are modulated by the interaction between organic matter composition and surfactants in the SML and the underlying water (ULW). However, the dynamic coupling of biogeochemical processes between the SML and the ULW remains poorly understood. To contribute to filling this knowledge gap, we conducted a multidisciplinary mesocosm study at the Center for Marine Sensor Technology (ZfMarS), Institute of Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Wilhelmshaven, Germany. In this study, we induced a phytoplankton bloom and observed the subsequent community shift to investigate the effects on the SML biogeochemistry. Samples were collected daily to analyse inorganic nutrients, phytopigments, surfactants, dissolved and particulate organic carbon (DOC, POC), total dissolved and particulate nitrogen (TDN, PN), phytoplankton and bacterial abundances, and bacterial utilisation of organic matter. A clear temporal segregation of nutrient samples in the SML and ULW was observed through a self-organising map (SOM) analysis. Phytoplankton bloom progression throughout the mesocosm experiment was classified into three phases: pre-bloom, bloom, and post-bloom based on Chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentration. Chl a concentration varied from 1.0 to 11.4 µg L−1. POC and PN followed the Chl a trend. Haptophytes, specifically Emiliania huxleyi, dominated the phytoplankton community, followed by diatoms, primarily Cylindrotheca closterium. An enrichment of surfactants and DOC was observed after the bloom. During the bloom, a distinct surface slick with complete surfactant coverage of the air–sea interface created a biofilm-like habitat in the SML, leading to increased bacterial cell abundance. The bacterial community utilised amino acids as the preferred carbon source, followed by carbohydrates in both water layers. Our findings highlight that the SML is a biogeochemical reactor, playing a crucial role in the production, transformation, and microbial activity of autochthonous organic matter, thus exhibiting the potential to strongly affect air–sea exchange. Incorporating SML dynamics into Earth system models will enhance climate predictions and improve ocean-atmosphere interaction studies on both regional and global scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=enr&AN=190253665
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.5194/bg-22-7563-2025
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 27
        StartPage: 7563
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Sea surface microlayer
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Algal blooms
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ecological assessment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Climate change forecasts
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Organic compounds
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Bacterial communities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Nutrient cycles
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ocean-atmosphere interaction
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Biogeochemical dynamics of the sea-surface microlayer in a multidisciplinary mesocosm study.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Bibi, Riaz
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Ribas-Ribas, Mariana
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Jaeger, Leonie
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Lehners, Carola
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Gassen, Lisa
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Cortés-Espinoza, Edgar Fernando
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Wollschläger, Jochen
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Thölen, Claudia
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Waska, Hannelore
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Zöbelein, Jasper
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Brinkhoff, Thorsten
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Athale, Isha
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Röttgers, Rüdiger
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Novak, Michael
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Engel, Anja
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Barthelmeß, Theresa
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Karnatz, Josefine
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Reinthaler, Thomas
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Spriahailo, Dmytro
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Friedrichs, Gernot
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 12
              Text: 2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 17264170
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 22
            – Type: issue
              Value: 23
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Biogeosciences
              Type: main
ResultId 1