2 research outputs found
Copper aerosols inhibit phytoplankton growth in the Mediterranean Sea
Aerosol deposition plays an important role in climate and biogeochemical cycles by
supplying nutrients to the open ocean, in turn stimulating ocean productivity and carbon
sequestration. Aerosol particles also contain elements such as copper (Cu) that are essential
in trace amounts for phytoplankton physiology but which can be toxic at high
concentrations. While the toxicity of Cu associated with aerosols has been demonstrated in
bioassay experiments, extrapolation of these laboratory results to natural conditions is not
straightforward. This study provides observational evidence of the negative effect of
aerosols containing high Cu concentrations on marine phytoplankton over a vast region of
the Western Mediterranean Sea. Direct aerosol measurements were combined with satellite
observations, resulting in the detection of significant declines in phytoplankton biomass
after atmospheric aerosol events characterized by high Cu concentrations. The declines
were more evident during summer, when nanoflagellates predominate in the phytoplankton
population and stratification and oligotrophic conditions prevail in the study region.
Together with previous findings concerning atmospheric Cu deposition, these results
demonstrate that the toxicity of Cu-rich aerosols can involve large areas of the world’s
oceans. Moreover, they highlight the present vulnerability of oceanic ecosystems to Cu-rich
aerosols of anthropogenic origins. Since anthropogenic emissions are increasing, largescale
negative effects on marine ecosystems can be anticipatedPeer Reviewe