Spatial and vertical distribution of particulate dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP) during spring in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean

• Published in: Deep-sea research. Part II, Topical studies in oceanography Topical studies in oceanography, 1997, Vol.44 (1), p.283-297
• Main Authors: Meyerdierks, D., Bolt, B., Kirst, G.O.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Marine
• ISSN: 0967-0645; 1879-0100
• DOI: 10.1016/S0967-0645(96)00070-7

Dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP) concentrations in relation to phytoplankton biomass and species composition were investigated on four transects between 47°S and 60°S along 6°W during the SO-JGOFS cruise ANT X/6 of R.V. Polarstern in October/November 1992. Particulate DMSP concentrations at 20 m depth in the three pelagic regimes, Polar Frontal Zone, southern Antarctic Circumpolar Current and the northern rim of the Weddell Gyre, were about 25–66, 5 and 3–14 nM, respectively. DMSP:chlorophyll a ratios for the three zones were 32–92, 10–35 and 25 nmol (μg chi a) −1, respectively. In the Polar Frontal Zone, the majority of DMSP was found in the 5–20 μm size fraction. Some DMSP was produced by algae > 20 μm (mainly diatoms), but the contribution of algae < 5 μm was negligible. As such, the Antarctic phytoplankton community sampled in the open Southern Ocean cannot be considered especially active DMSP producers compared to temperate and tropical algae.