Transcript The ocean as regional enabler A Pacific Northwest success

Influences of Changes in Salinity on
Release of Carbon by Phytoplankton
Lab, Field, and
Modeling Study
Jessica Wagner
Century High School
OGI & OHSU
Mentors:
Tawnya Peterson
Joe Needoba
Karen Watanabe
CMOP
2
Center for Coastal Margin Observation & Prediction
•
•
•
•
Field work
Modeling
In Situ Data
Lab Experiments
Project Relevance
Water Samples, Carbon Model, Salinity
Experiments
Focus/Question
3
Estuary
•Where fresh water meets
salt water
•Has many changes in
salinity over short
periods of time
•Important for fish-creates a
habitat
•Biologically very productive
Question: How does the
change in salinity affect the
growth rate of freshwater
Diatoms?
CDOM Cast Data
4
CDOM
Colored dissolved
organic matter
http://www.gcrio.org
CDOM-RFU (Cast 151)
0
0
Depth (m)
5
10
15
20
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
Analysis of Variants (ANOVA)
5
Growth Rate vs.
Salinity
-3
14
x 10
12
Conclusion:
Growth rates are
significantly
different on the
salinity range
Slopes
10
8
6
4
2
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Salinity (PSU)
Salinity affects growth
What does this mean for the estuary and
carbon cycling?
Salinity experiments that can show effect of changes in
salinity on carbohydrates are needed
How do changes in salinity affect dissolved
carbon release by phytoplankton?
6
Salinity Experiment -May
FW-Control
½ filtered fw
½ none filtered fw
SW-Shock
½ Filtered sw
½ none filtered fw
7
Salinity Experiment-July
FW-Control
½ filtered fw
½ none filtered fw
SW-Shock
½ Filtered sw
½ none filtered fw
8
Summary
• Salinity affects growth of diatom
• CDOM release increased as salt water was
added to fresh water phytoplankton
• However, No effect on July Salinity
experiment
– Different Seasons, Different Location in the river,
Different species (Salt-tolerant)
• Future Hypothesis/Testing
– Different salt tolerance on other species of diatoms
9
Thank You
-My Mentors Tawnya Peterson,
Joe Needoba, and Karen
Watanabe
-K-12 Director Karen Wegner
-CMOP
-ASE
10