Iron uptake and physiological response of phytoplankton during a mesoscaleSouthern Ocean iron enrichment

Iron supply is thought to regulate primary production in high nitrate, low chlorophyll (HNLC) regions of the sea in both the past and the present. A c ritical aspect of this relationship is acquisition of iron (Fe) by phytopla nkton, which occurs through a complex series of extracellular reactions tha t are influenced by Fe chemistry and speciation. During the first in situ m esoscale Fe-enrichment experiment in the Southern Ocean (Southern Ocean iro n release experiment [SOIREE]), we monitored the uptake of Fe by three size classes of plankton and their ensuing physiological response to the Fe enr ichment. Rates of Fe uptake from both inorganic Fe (Fe') and organic Fe com plexes (FeL) were initially fast, indicative of Fe-limitation. After Fe enr ichment phytoplankton down-regulated Fe uptake and optimized physiological performance, but by day 12 they had greatly increased their capacity to acq uire Fe from FeL. The increase in Fe uptake from FeL coincided with a sixfo ld decrease in Fe' that followed the production of Fe-binding organic ligan ds. Phytoplankton were able to use organically bound Fe at rates sufficient to maintain net growth for more than 42 d. Adaptation to such shifts in Fe chemistry may contribute to bloom longevity in these polar HNLC waters.