Quasi-Lagrangian drifter studies of iron speciation and cycling off Point Conception, California

The distribution and speciation of dissolved Fe (dFe) were measured during four quasi-Lagrangian drogued drifter studies (~ 4 d duration each) that were conducted in the southern California Current System in May 2006 and April 2007. Three of the four drifter studies were within the coastal upwelling regime and one drifter study was in a warm-core anticyclonic eddy. Incubation bottle experiments were also conducted to determine the degree of phytoplankton Fe limitation and to assess changes in the concentration of Fe-binding ligands. In the coastal upwelling drifter studies, in situ dFe (1.4–1.8 nM) and macronutrients were initially high and declined over time. Fe addition incubation experiments indicated that the phytoplankton community was not Fe limited at the beginning of the coastal upwelling drifter experiments (when μM nitrate:nM dFe ratios were ~ 7–8). By the end of two of the three drifter studies (when μM nitrate:nM dFe ratios were ~ 12–19), Fe addition resulted in larger nitrate and silicic acid drawdown, and larger accumulations in chlorophyll a, particulate organic carbon and nitrogen, and diatom and dinoflagellate-specific carotenoid pigments. Fe speciation was measured in situ in three of the four drifter studies with stronger L1-type ligands found to be present in excess of dFe in all samples. In Fe speciation incubation experiments, L1-type ligand production was observed in conjunction with phytoplankton growth under Fe-limiting conditions. The results presented here support and add a quasi-Lagrangian perspective to previous observations of dFe and macronutrient cycling over space and time within the California coastal upwelling regime, including Fe limitation within the phytoplankton community in this region and the biological production of Fe-binding ligands concomitant with Fe limitation.

► We report changes in dissolved Fe (dFe) during quasi-Lagrangian drifter studies.
► In two of four drifter studies, dFe decreased more quickly than macronutrients.
► Low Fe availability resulted in Fe limitation within the phytoplankton community.
► Strong L1-type ligands, when measured, were in excess of dissolved Fe.
► Fe stress resulted in apparent in vitro biological production of L1-type ligands.