Comparing marine primary productivity estimates through different methods across different sites in the North Atlantic

Phytoplankton are responsible for fixing about half of the carbon captured through photosynthesis on a global scale. They are the fuel that powers the entire ocean food web and form the foundation of the biological carbon pump. Despite the critical role primary production plays on the Earth climate, there is still a gap in our ability to accurately represent photosynthetic rates at relevant spatial and temporal scales.

Traditionally, the rates of primary productivity in the sea have been measured using 14C method. Despite its clear advantage of directly measuring photosynthetic carbon assimilation, a main drawback is the low spatial and temporal resolution. This limitation is overcome using other common techniques that use chlorophyll a fluorescence (ChlF) approaches, such as the Fast Repetition Rate Fluorometry (FRRF) or the Single Turnover Active Fluorometry (STAF). Both fluorescence-based approaches, while less time-consuming, require additional data processing and handling to obtain primary productivity estimates.

This research aims to improve the interpretability of ChlF measurements and facilitate the inter-comparison across fluorescence-based techniques, a crucial step for improving global primary productivity estimations.

Requirements

We are looking for highly motivated MSc students (2-3) with a background and keen interest in data science and ecological modelling. The student will work with high spatial and temporal resolution datasets of ChlF and 14C-derived data in several locations of the North Sea, Wadden Sea and Oosterschelde. Depending on the student’s interest and profile, we can consider different research approaches, from using data-based techniques to following a mechanistic point of view.

The projects have a planned duration of 6 – 9 months (upon discussion) and will take place at NIOZ, Yerseke. There is flexibility regarding the amount of time spent on site .

Contact

For more information about this project, please contact: Dr. Marta Tarres Mercader (marta.tarres.mercader@nioz.nl) or Dr. Stanley Nmor (stanley.nmor@nioz.nl).