Functional links between bioenergetics and bio-optical traits of phytoplankton taxonomic groups: an overarching hypothesis with applications for ocean colour remote sensing

@article{citeulike:2702685, abstract = {We review the concept of phytoplankton functional types (PFTs) in marine ecosystems as a means of advancing bio-mechanistic models that can be coupled to the global carbon cycle and the Earth's climate system. Conventional classification of phytoplankton by size may seem arbitrary, but there appears clear links between size and environmental characteristics (availability of essential nutrients and light) that regulate photosynthesis, phytoplankton selection and succession. Taking a minimalist approach, small phytoplankton (picoplankton) survive in permanently stratified systems with low nutrients, high surface light and low light in deep clines, whereas large phytoplankton (microplankton) thrive in high nutrient, turbulent, high light, near surface systems. Nutrient-light environmental conditions are characteristic properties of globally, latitudinal-dispersed biogeochemical provinces. These contrasting nutrient-light regimes define the extreme ends of the bio-energetic scale of photosynthesis and set the end points of the primary range of phytoplankton functional processes. To determine PFTs from remotely sensed ocean colour data, there must be a specific bio-optical trait (BOT) that can be associated with the phytoplankton species or taxa. We investigate the connection of the bio-energetic scale to phytoplankton types and their BOTs, which is the first, but crucial step for classifying PFTs on the basis of functional processes, from which refinements and further partitioning can be developed. 10.1093/plankt/fbm098}, author = {Aiken, Jim and Hardman-Mountford, Nick J. and Barlow, Ray and Fishwick, James and Hirata, Takafumi and Smyth, Tim }, citeulike-article-id = {2702685}, doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/plankt/fbm098}, journal = {J. Plankton Res.}, keywords = {diversity, remote-sensing}, month = {February}, number = {2}, pages = {165--181}, posted-at = {2008-04-22 19:22:46}, priority = {2}, title = {Functional links between bioenergetics and bio-optical traits of phytoplankton taxonomic groups: an overarching hypothesis with applications for ocean colour remote sensing}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/plankt/fbm098}, volume = {30}, year = {2008} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:2702685 L3 - citeulike-article-id:2702685 N2 - We review the concept of phytoplankton functional types (PFTs) in marine ecosystems as a means of advancing bio-mechanistic models that can be coupled to the global carbon cycle and the Earth's climate system. Conventional classification of phytoplankton by size may seem arbitrary, but there appears clear links between size and environmental characteristics (availability of essential nutrients and light) that regulate photosynthesis, phytoplankton selection and succession. Taking a minimalist approach, small phytoplankton (picoplankton) survive in permanently stratified systems with low nutrients, high surface light and low light in deep clines, whereas large phytoplankton (microplankton) thrive in high nutrient, turbulent, high light, near surface systems. Nutrient-light environmental conditions are characteristic properties of globally, latitudinal-dispersed biogeochemical provinces. These contrasting nutrient-light regimes define the extreme ends of the bio-energetic scale of photosynthesis and set the end points of the primary range of phytoplankton functional processes. To determine PFTs from remotely sensed ocean colour data, there must be a specific bio-optical trait (BOT) that can be associated with the phytoplankton species or taxa. We investigate the connection of the bio-energetic scale to phytoplankton types and their BOTs, which is the first, but crucial step for classifying PFTs on the basis of functional processes, from which refinements and further partitioning can be developed. 10.1093/plankt/fbm098 IS - 2 JF - J. Plankton Res. EP - 181 TI - Functional links between bioenergetics and bio-optical traits of phytoplankton taxonomic groups: an overarching hypothesis with applications for ocean colour remote sensing VL - 30 SP - 165 KW - diversity KW - remote-sensing AU - Aiken, Jim AU - Hardman-Mountford, Nick AU - Barlow, Ray AU - Fishwick, James AU - Hirata, Takafumi AU - Smyth, Tim PY - 2008/02/01/ UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/plankt/fbm098 ER -