Phosphorus at the Bermuda Atlantic Time-Series Station (BATS): Microbial Cycling of a Potentially Limiting Nutrient

9416614 Ammerman The principal objective of this study is to determine if planktonic microbial growth in the Sargasso Sea is phosphorus limited. This objective will be addressed by a combination of chemical, metabolic and biomass measurements coupled with a series of nutrient-enrichment experiments. The measurements will made over the course of three cruises aimed at capturing contrasting spring bloom and summer periods. More frequent time series cruises will supplement the results fro these three proposed study will measure the cycling of phosphorus in the Sargasso Sea, which is a major but rarely studied nutrient which may be limiting autotrophic and heterotrophic planktonic growth. Phosphorus limitation in such environments could have significant impact on the global phosphorus cycle and the oceanic component of the global carbon cycle. The research will also serve to improve analytical methods for measuring inorganic phosphorus in seawater.