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A massive phytoplankton bloom induced by an ecosystem-scale iron fertilization experiment in the equatorial Pacific Ocean
- Kenneth H. Coale1,
- Kenneth S. Johnson1,2,
- Steve E. Fitzwater1,
- R. Michael Gordon1,
- Sara Tanner1,
- Francisco P. Chavez2,
- Laurie Ferioli1,2,
- Carole Sakamoto2,
- Paul Rogers2,
- Frank Millero3,
- Paul Steinberg3,
- Phil Nightingale4 nAff8,
- David Cooper4 nAff9,
- William P. Cochlan5,
- Michael R. Landry6,
- John Constantinou6,
- Gretchen Rollwagen6,
- Armando Trasvina7 nAff11 &
- …
- Raphael Kudela5 nAff10
Naturevolume 383, pages495–501 (1996)Cite this article
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Abstract
The seeding of an expanse of surface waters in the equatorial Pacific Ocean with low concentrations of dissolved iron triggered a massive phytoplankton bloom which consumed large quantities of carbon dioxide and nitrate that these microscopic plants cannot fully utilize under natural conditions. These and other observations provide unequivocal support for the hypothesis that phytoplankton growth in this oceanic region is limited by iron bioavailability.
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Author information
Phil Nightingale
Present address: Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, West Hoe, Plymouth, PL1 3DH, UK
David Cooper
Present address: Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of Wisconsin, 1225, West Dayton Street, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA
Raphael Kudela
Present address: Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, PO Box 628, Moss Landing, California, 95039-0628, USA
Armando Trasvina
Present address: Departamento de Oceanografia Fisica, Oceanografia Tropical, CICESE subsede Baja California Sur, Miraflores No. 334 entre Mulege y La Paz, Fracc. Bella Vista, La Paz 23050, B.C.S., Mexico
Authors and Affiliations
Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, PO Box 450, Moss Landing, California, 95039-0450, USA
Kenneth H. Coale, Kenneth S. Johnson, Steve E. Fitzwater, R. Michael Gordon, Sara Tanner & Laurie Ferioli
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, PO Box 628, Moss Landing, California, 95039-0628, USA
Kenneth S. Johnson, Francisco P. Chavez, Laurie Ferioli, Carole Sakamoto & Paul Rogers
University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne, Florida, 33149, USA
Frank Millero & Paul Steinberg
School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
Phil Nightingale & David Cooper
Hancock Institute for Marine Studies, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, 90089-0371, USA
William P. Cochlan & Raphael Kudela
Department of Oceanography, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1000 Pope Road, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96822, USA
Michael R. Landry, John Constantinou & Gretchen Rollwagen
CICESE Oceanografia Fisica, Km 107 Carret. Tijuana-Ensenada, Ensenada, B. C., Mexico
Armando Trasvina
- Kenneth H. Coale
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- Kenneth S. Johnson
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- Steve E. Fitzwater
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- R. Michael Gordon
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- Sara Tanner
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- Francisco P. Chavez
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- Laurie Ferioli
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- Carole Sakamoto
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- Paul Rogers
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- Frank Millero
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- Paul Steinberg
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- Phil Nightingale
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- Michael R. Landry
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- Armando Trasvina
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Coale, K., Johnson, K., Fitzwater, S.et al. A massive phytoplankton bloom induced by an ecosystem-scale iron fertilization experiment in the equatorial Pacific Ocean.Nature383, 495–501 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1038/383495a0
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