Coccolithophore Ecology and Biogeochemical Dynamics
Summary
Coccolithophores are globally distributed marine phytoplankton distinguished by their calcified exoskeletons and play a pivotal role in oceanic carbon cycling. Through simultaneous photosynthesis and calcification, they mediate the uptake of inorganic carbon and influence seawater alkalinity, while their calcareous remains facilitate the downward transport of both organic and inorganic carbon in the biological pump. Species exhibit complex life cycles with alternating haploid and diploid phases that occupy distinct ecological niches and contribute to the resilience of coccolithophore populations under varying temperature, light and nutrient regimes. Variations in coccolith morphology and composition affect carbon export efficiency and buffering capacity, and ongoing research is elucidating their responses to ocean stratification, acidification and nutrient limitation. Understanding coccolithophore ecology and biogeochemistry is critical for predicting feedbacks in the global carbon cycle under future climate scenarios.
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Coccolithophore Ecology and Biogeochemical Dynamics publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in coccolithophore ecology and biogeochemical dynamics across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Coccolithophore: A single-celled marine phytoplankton that produces external calcium carbonate plates.
Coccolith: An individual plate of calcium carbonate formed by a coccolithophore cell.
Coccosphere: The full covering of coccoliths surrounding a coccolithophore cell.
Particulate inorganic carbon (PIC): Carbon present as carbonate minerals, predominantly biogenic calcite.
Particulate organic carbon (POC): Carbon contained within organic cell biomass and detritus.
Haplo-diplontic life cycle: A life cycle alternating between haploid and diploid free-living phases.
Trait trade-off: A situation where enhancement of one physiological trait incurs a cost in another, such as growth rate versus nutrient storage.
References
- CASCADE: Dataset of extant coccolithophore size, carbon content and global distribution. Scientific Data (2024).
- A critical trade-off between nitrogen quota and growth allows Coccolithus braarudii life cycle phases to exploit varying environment. Biogeosciences (2024).
- Haplo-diplontic life cycle expands coccolithophore niche. Biogeosciences (2021).
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