A model of carbon isotopic fractionation and active carbon uptake in phytoplankton

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 182:295-298 (1999) - doi:10.3354/meps182295 A model of carbon isotopic fractionation and active carbon uptake in phytoplankton Klaus Keller1,*, François M. M. Morel2 1Department of Civil Engineering and Operations Research and 2Department of Geosciences, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA *E-mail: klkeller@princeton.edu ABSTRACT: The carbon isotopic fractionation of phytoplankton photosynthesis (ε p) has been interpreted by previous authors as inconsistent with active bicarbonate uptake. This interpretation contradicts the results of numerous physiological studies demonstrating significant active bicarbonate uptake in phytoplankton. Using a simple model of cellular regulation of carbon acquisition we show that an upward curvature of ε p as a function of the ratio of growth rate to carbon dioxide concentration does not exclude active bicarbonate uptake. Our model describes adequately published carbon isotope data for cyanobacteria, diatoms, and coccolithophores consistent with active bicarbonate uptake. KEY WORDS: Phytoplankton · Carbon isotopic fractionation · Model · Active carbon uptake · Bicarbonate · Carbon dioxide Full text in pdf format PreviousNextExport citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 182. Publication date: June 11, 1999 Print ISSN:0171-8630; Online ISSN:1616-1599 Copyright © 1999 Inter-Research.