Multi-Element Composition of Diatom Chaetoceros spp. from Natural Phytoplankton Assemblages of the Russian Arctic Seas

Abstract

Data on the elemental composition of the diatom Chaetoceros spp. from natural phytoplankton communities of Arctic marine ecosystems are presented for the first time. Samples were collected during the 69th cruise (22 August–26 September 2017) of the R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh in the Kara, Laptev, and East Siberian Seas. The multi-element composition of the diatom microalgae was studied by ICP-AES and ICP-MS methods. The contents of major (Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, K and Ca), trace (Li, Be, B, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, Cs, Ba, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi, Th and U) and rare earth (Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu) elements varied greatly, which was probably associated with the peculiarities of the functional state and mineral nutrition of phytoplankton in the autumn period. Biogenic silicon was the dominant component of the chemical composition of Chaetoceros spp., averaging 19.10 ± 0.58% of dry weight (DW). Other significant macronutrients were alkaline (Na and K) and alkaline earth (Ca and Mg) metals as well as biogenic (S and P) and essential (Al and Fe) elements. Their total contents varied from 1.26 to 2.72% DW, averaging 2.07 ± 0.43% DW. The Al:Si ratio for natural assemblages of Chaetoceros spp. of the shelf seas of the Arctic Ocean was 5.8 × 10−3. The total concentrations of trace and rare earth elements on average were 654.42 ± 120.07 and 4.14 ± 1.37 μg g−1 DW, respectively. We summarize the scarce data on the average chemical composition of marine and oceanic phytoplankton and discuss the limitations and approaches of such studies. We conclude on the lack of data and the need for further targeted studies on this issue.

Fate and Trophic Transfer of Rare Earth Elements in a Tropical Estuarine Food Web

“…Zooplankton, periphyton, and phytoplankton were slightly enriched in the LREE over the HREE, the same behavior observed elsewhere. 20,64,65 The highest fractionation, demonstrated by the LREE/HREE ratio, was found for the periphyton (44.5 ± 2.4), followed by zooplankton (34.0 ± 0.9), phytoplankton (29.5 ± 0.05), and polychaeta (23.4 ± 0.31) (Table S8).…”

“…There is a scarcity of REE data for phytoplankton. Lobus et al 65 analyzed REE concentrations in Chaetoceros spp on Arctic Seas and found 4.14 ± 1.37 mg kg −1 . Strady et al 64 measured plankton from the northwestern Mediterranean Sea and found that ∑REE (0.012 ± 0.006 mg kg −1 ) in phytoplankton (60−200 μm) was 13 times higher than those in zooplankton (200−500 μm).…”

Sulfated Polysaccharides from Chaetoceros muelleri: Macromolecular Characteristics and Bioactive Properties

“…These elements, amongst others, have been described in Chaetoceros spp. [ 32 ]; however, information of this nature and the elemental concentrations can significantly vary among species, depending on their environment and nutrient availability [ 33 ].…”

Production of Fluorescent Dissolved Organic Matter by Microalgae Strains from the Ob and Yenisei Gulfs (Siberia)

“…Algae are a key part of aquatic ecosystems, and aquatic life depends directly or indirectly on their activity [ 1 ]. Being the most important contributors to primary production in the world ocean, they form the base of the food web and affect biogeochemical cycles of many chemical elements [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]. In particular, dissolved primary production released through passive diffusion and active exudation processes [ 5 ] as well as organic matter liberating from decaying detritus represent an integral part of dissolved organic matter (DOM), the second largest bioavailable carbon pool in the ocean after the dissolved inorganic carbon pool [ 6 , 7 ].…”