Nutrient content and stoichiometry of pelagic Sargassum reflects increasing nitrogen availability in the Atlantic Basin

B. E. Lapointe; R. A. Brewton; L. W. Herren; M. Wang; C. Hu; D. J. McGillicuddy; S. Lindell; F. J. Hernandez; P. L. Morton

doi:10.1038/s41467-021-23135-7

Nature Communications (May 2021)

Nutrient content and stoichiometry of pelagic Sargassum reflects increasing nitrogen availability in the Atlantic Basin

B. E. Lapointe,
R. A. Brewton,
L. W. Herren,
M. Wang,
C. Hu,
D. J. McGillicuddy,
S. Lindell,
F. J. Hernandez,
P. L. Morton

Affiliations

B. E. Lapointe: Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University
R. A. Brewton: Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University
L. W. Herren: Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University
M. Wang: College of Marine Science, University of South Florida
C. Hu: College of Marine Science, University of South Florida
D. J. McGillicuddy: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
S. Lindell: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
F. J. Hernandez: Division of Coastal Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi
P. L. Morton: Florida State University/National High Magnetic Field Lab

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23135-7
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12, no. 1
pp. 1 – 10

Abstract

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The macroalgae Sargassum has grown for centuries in the oligotrophic North Atlantic supported by natural nutrient sources and cycling. Here the authors show that changes in tissue nutrient contents since the 1980s reflect global anthropogenic nitrogen enrichment, causing blooms in the wider Atlantic basin.

Published in Nature Communications

ISSN: 2041-1723 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

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