While most of the North Atlantic subtropical gyre does not have enough phosphate to sustain diazotroph activity, the Gulf Stream transports water from the Slope Sea into the subtropical gyre through a series of mesoscale eddies and other structures, providing more phosphate than needed for non-diazotrophic plankton growth and allowing a niche for diazotrophs to thrive. Moreover, the Gulf Stream transports waters >20ºC all year, which is higher than the temperature of subtropical waters and closer to the optimal temperature for growth of diazotrophs.
Therefore, the environment near the Gulf Stream has many of the elements required for diazotrophs to thrive. Moreover, the rich spectrum of mesoscale eddies associated with the Gulf Stream is certain to drive a down-gradient flux of excess phosphate into the subtropical gyre. This dynamic environment is thus perfect to study the effect of fine scale structures on diazotroph activity and diversity.
website: https://sites.google.com/view/marbenavides/projects/figure
role: Research Team
Funding Agency: Eurofleets+.
IP: Mar Benavides.
Dates: 01/01/2022-31/12/2023.
Therefore, the environment near the Gulf Stream has many of the elements required for diazotrophs to thrive. Moreover, the rich spectrum of mesoscale eddies associated with the Gulf Stream is certain to drive a down-gradient flux of excess phosphate into the subtropical gyre. This dynamic environment is thus perfect to study the effect of fine scale structures on diazotroph activity and diversity.
website: https://sites.google.com/view/marbenavides/projects/figure
role: Research Team
Funding Agency: Eurofleets+.
IP: Mar Benavides.
Dates: 01/01/2022-31/12/2023.