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Other nutrients — such as phosphorus, silica and many others — have a significant impact on the reproduction and growth of life in oceans.

Other nutrients (besides iron) — such as phosphorus, silica, and many others — have a significant impact on the reproduction and growth of life in oceans12. The growth and reproduction of marine life are heavily influenced by the availability of various nutrients. While carbon is a fundamental component for life, other nutrients such as phosphorus, silica, and various trace elements play crucial roles in sustaining the biological productivity of marine ecosystems. These nutrients are involved in multiple physiological processes in marine organisms, influencing their growth, reproduction, and overall health.

Key Nutrients and Their Functions​

Phosphorus (P)

Phosphorus is indispensable for all living organisms3456. It forms part of DNA, RNA, ATP (adenosine triphosphate), and phospholipids, which are essential for energy transfer, genetic information storage, and cell membrane structure. In marine ecosystems, phosphorus is primarily found as phosphate (PO4^3-). It often serves as a limiting nutrient, meaning that its scarcity can restrict the growth of phytoplankton and other primary producers. When phosphate levels are sufficient, phytoplankton blooms thrive, forming the base of the marine food web.

Silica (Si)

Silica, or silicon dioxide (SiO2), is crucial for the growth of diatoms, a group of phytoplankton that have silica-based cell walls called frustules71. Diatoms significantly contribute to primary production and are essential components of marine food webs. The availability of silica influences the abundance and distribution of diatom populations, thereby impacting the entire marine ecosystem7.

Nitrogen (N)

Nitrogen is vital for synthesizing amino acids, proteins, nucleic acids, and other cellular constituents891011. It often limits growth in marine environments, particularly in forms like nitrate (NO3^-), nitrite (NO2^-), and ammonium (NH4^+). The abundance of nitrogen regulates the productivity of phytoplankton and other marine organisms. Certain bacteria and cyanobacteria can fix atmospheric nitrogen (N2), converting it into biologically available forms and supporting the nitrogen cycle in the ocean.

Trace Elements (e.g., Iron, Zinc, Copper)

Trace elements are required in minimal amounts but are critical for various enzymatic and metabolic processes12131415. For instance, iron (Fe) is an essential component of enzymes involved in photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation. Iron is often a limiting nutrient in vast oceanic regions, especially in high-nutrient, low-chlorophyll (HNLC) areas such as the Southern Ocean. The availability of trace elements can significantly influence phytoplankton growth and, consequently, impact the entire marine food web10.

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Footnotes​

  1. Bristow, L. A., Mohr, W., Ahmerkamp, S., & Kuypers, M. M. M. (2017). Nutrients that limit growth in the ocean. Current Biology, 27(11), R474-R478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2017.03.030 ↩ ↩2

  2. Raven, J. A., Brown, K. C., Mackay, M., Beardall, J., Giordano, M., Granum, E., Leegood, R. C., Kilminster, K., Walker, D., & Lagares, A. (2010). Iron, nitrogen, phosphorus and zinc cycling and consequences for primary productivity in the oceans. In Cambridge University Press (pp. 247-272). https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9780511754852.013 ↩

  3. Froelich, P. N., Bender, M. L., Luedtke, N. A., Heath, G. R., & DeVries, T. (1982). The marine phosphorus cycle. American Journal of Science, 282(4), 474-511. https://doi.org/10.2475/ajs.282.4.474 ↩

  4. Unknown Author. (2023, November). The phosphorus cycle. ScienceDirect. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0065288105480116 ↩

  5. Karl, D. M. (2014). Microbially mediated transformations of phosphorus in the sea: New views of an old cycle. Annual Review of Marine Science, 6(1), 279-337. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-marine-010213-135046 ↩

  6. Browning, T. J., & Moore, C. M. (2023). Global analysis of ocean phytoplankton nutrient limitation reveals high prevalence of co-limitation. Nature Communications, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-40774-0 ↩

  7. Martin-Jézéquel, V., Hildebrand, M., & Brzezinski, M. A. (2000). Silicon metabolism in diatoms: Implications for growth. Journal of Phycology, 36(5), 821-840. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1529-8817.2000.00019.x ↩ ↩2

  8. Sorrell, B. K., Hawes, I., & Safi, K. (2013). Nitrogen and carbon limitation of planktonic primary production and phytoplankton–bacterioplankton coupling in ponds on the McMurdo Ice Shelf, Antarctica. Environmental Research Letters, 8(3), 035043. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/8/3/035043 ↩

  9. Miller, T. (2010, May). Plant nitrogen nutrition and transport. Wiley Online Library. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470015902.a0021257 ↩

  10. Moore, C. M., Mills, M. M., Arrigo, K. R., Berman‐Frank, I., Bopp, L., Boyd, P. W., Galbraith, E. D., Geider, R. J., Guieu, C., Jaccard, S. L., Jickells, T., LaRoche, J., Lenton, T. M., Mahowald, N. M., Marañón, E., Marinov, I., Moore, J. K., Nakatsuka, T., Oschlies, A., Saito, M. A., Thingstad, T. F., Tsuda, A., & Ulloa, O. (2013). Processes and patterns of oceanic nutrient limitation. Nature Geoscience, 6(9), 701-710. https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo1765 ↩ ↩2

  11. Beringer, J. E., & Johnston, A. (1984). The significance of symbiotic nitrogen fixation in plant production. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences, 1(4), 269-286. https://doi.org/10.1080/07352688409382181 ↩

  12. Goldman, C. R. (2009). Micronutrient elements (Co, Mo, Mn, Zn, Cu). In Encyclopedia of Inland Waters (pp. 52-56). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-012370626-3.00094-6 ↩

  13. Morel, F. M. M., & Price, N. M. (2003). The biogeochemical cycles of trace metals in the oceans. Science, 300(5621), 944-947. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1083545 ↩

  14. Gumienna‐Kontecka, E., Rowińska‐Żyrek, M., & Łuczkowski, M. (2018). The role of trace elements in living organisms. In Handbook on the Toxicology of Metals (pp. 177-206). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119133780.ch9 ↩

  15. Sunda, W. G. (2001). Trace element nutrients. In Encyclopedia of Ocean Sciences (pp. 75-86). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-012374473-9.00715-3 ↩