Spatial Patterns of Macromolecular Composition of Phytoplankton in the Arctic Ocean

The macromolecular concentrations and compositions of phytoplankton are crucial for the growth or nutritional structure of higher trophic levels through the food web in the ecosystem. To understand variations in macromolecular contents of phytoplankton, we investigated the macromolecular components...

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Main Authors: Keyseok Choe, Misun Yun, Sanghoon Park, Eunjin Yang, Jinyoung Jung, Jaejoong Kang, Naeun Jo, Jaehong Kim, Jaesoon Kim, Sang Heon Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-09-01
Series:Water
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/18/2495
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spelling doaj-a5cf05ec00e5442b8c68bf7426e3b6f62021-09-26T01:38:37ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412021-09-01132495249510.3390/w13182495Spatial Patterns of Macromolecular Composition of Phytoplankton in the Arctic OceanKeyseok Choe0Misun Yun1Sanghoon Park2Eunjin Yang3Jinyoung Jung4Jaejoong Kang5Naeun Jo6Jaehong Kim7Jaesoon Kim8Sang Heon Lee9Department of Oceanography, College of Natural Science, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, KoreaCollege of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, ChinaDepartment of Oceanography, College of Natural Science, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, KoreaKorea Polar Research Institute, Incheon 21990, KoreaKorea Polar Research Institute, Incheon 21990, KoreaDepartment of Oceanography, College of Natural Science, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, KoreaDepartment of Oceanography, College of Natural Science, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, KoreaDepartment of Oceanography, College of Natural Science, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, KoreaDepartment of Oceanography, College of Natural Science, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, KoreaDepartment of Oceanography, College of Natural Science, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, KoreaThe macromolecular concentrations and compositions of phytoplankton are crucial for the growth or nutritional structure of higher trophic levels through the food web in the ecosystem. To understand variations in macromolecular contents of phytoplankton, we investigated the macromolecular components of phytoplankton and analyzed their spatial pattern on the Chukchi Shelf and the Canada Basin. The carbohydrate (CHO) concentrations on the Chukchi Shelf and the Canada Basin were 50.4–480.8 μg L<sup>−1</sup> and 35.2–90.1 μg L<sup>−1</sup>, whereas the lipids (LIP) concentrations were 23.7–330.5 μg L<sup>−1</sup> and 11.7–65.6 μg L<sup>−1</sup>, respectively. The protein (PRT) concentrations were 25.3–258.5 μg L<sup>−1</sup> on the Chukchi Shelf and 2.4–35.1 μg L<sup>−1</sup> in the Canada Basin. CHO were the predominant macromolecules, accounting for 42.6% on the Chukchi Shelf and 60.5% in the Canada Basin. LIP and PRT contributed to 29.7% and 27.7% of total macromolecular composition on the Chukchi Shelf and 30.8% and 8.7% in the Canada Basin, respectively. Low PRT concentration and composition in the Canada Basin might be a result from the severe nutrient-deficient conditions during phytoplankton growth. The calculated food material concentrations were 307.8 and 98.9 μg L<sup>−1</sup>, and the average calorie contents of phytoplankton were 1.9 and 0.6 kcal m<sup>−3</sup> for the Chukchi Shelf and the Canada Basin, respectively, which indicates the phytoplankton on the Chukchi Shelf could provide the large quantity of food material and high calories to the higher trophic levels. Overall, our results highlight that the biochemical compositions of phytoplankton are considerably different in the regions of the Arctic Ocean. More studies on the changes in the biochemical compositions of phytoplankton are still required under future environmental changes.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/18/2495macromoleculesphytoplanktonChukchi ShelfCanada Basinfood material
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Keyseok Choe
Misun Yun
Sanghoon Park
Eunjin Yang
Jinyoung Jung
Jaejoong Kang
Naeun Jo
Jaehong Kim
Jaesoon Kim
Sang Heon Lee
spellingShingle Keyseok Choe
Misun Yun
Sanghoon Park
Eunjin Yang
Jinyoung Jung
Jaejoong Kang
Naeun Jo
Jaehong Kim
Jaesoon Kim
Sang Heon Lee
Spatial Patterns of Macromolecular Composition of Phytoplankton in the Arctic Ocean
Water
macromolecules
phytoplankton
Chukchi Shelf
Canada Basin
food material
author_facet Keyseok Choe
Misun Yun
Sanghoon Park
Eunjin Yang
Jinyoung Jung
Jaejoong Kang
Naeun Jo
Jaehong Kim
Jaesoon Kim
Sang Heon Lee
author_sort Keyseok Choe
title Spatial Patterns of Macromolecular Composition of Phytoplankton in the Arctic Ocean
title_short Spatial Patterns of Macromolecular Composition of Phytoplankton in the Arctic Ocean
title_full Spatial Patterns of Macromolecular Composition of Phytoplankton in the Arctic Ocean
title_fullStr Spatial Patterns of Macromolecular Composition of Phytoplankton in the Arctic Ocean
title_full_unstemmed Spatial Patterns of Macromolecular Composition of Phytoplankton in the Arctic Ocean
title_sort spatial patterns of macromolecular composition of phytoplankton in the arctic ocean
publisher MDPI AG
series Water
issn 2073-4441
publishDate 2021-09-01
description The macromolecular concentrations and compositions of phytoplankton are crucial for the growth or nutritional structure of higher trophic levels through the food web in the ecosystem. To understand variations in macromolecular contents of phytoplankton, we investigated the macromolecular components of phytoplankton and analyzed their spatial pattern on the Chukchi Shelf and the Canada Basin. The carbohydrate (CHO) concentrations on the Chukchi Shelf and the Canada Basin were 50.4–480.8 μg L<sup>−1</sup> and 35.2–90.1 μg L<sup>−1</sup>, whereas the lipids (LIP) concentrations were 23.7–330.5 μg L<sup>−1</sup> and 11.7–65.6 μg L<sup>−1</sup>, respectively. The protein (PRT) concentrations were 25.3–258.5 μg L<sup>−1</sup> on the Chukchi Shelf and 2.4–35.1 μg L<sup>−1</sup> in the Canada Basin. CHO were the predominant macromolecules, accounting for 42.6% on the Chukchi Shelf and 60.5% in the Canada Basin. LIP and PRT contributed to 29.7% and 27.7% of total macromolecular composition on the Chukchi Shelf and 30.8% and 8.7% in the Canada Basin, respectively. Low PRT concentration and composition in the Canada Basin might be a result from the severe nutrient-deficient conditions during phytoplankton growth. The calculated food material concentrations were 307.8 and 98.9 μg L<sup>−1</sup>, and the average calorie contents of phytoplankton were 1.9 and 0.6 kcal m<sup>−3</sup> for the Chukchi Shelf and the Canada Basin, respectively, which indicates the phytoplankton on the Chukchi Shelf could provide the large quantity of food material and high calories to the higher trophic levels. Overall, our results highlight that the biochemical compositions of phytoplankton are considerably different in the regions of the Arctic Ocean. More studies on the changes in the biochemical compositions of phytoplankton are still required under future environmental changes.
topic macromolecules
phytoplankton
Chukchi Shelf
Canada Basin
food material
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/18/2495
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