News From the Field
Researchers Discover Source of Essential Nutrients for Mid-ocean Algae

June 23, 2010

For almost three decades, oceanographers have been puzzled by the ability of microscopic algae to grow in mid-ocean areas where there is very little nitrate, an essential algal nutrient. In this week's issue of Nature, MBARI chemical oceanographer Ken Johnson and his coauthors show that mid-ocean algae obtain nitrate from deep water, as much as 250 meters below the surface. This finding will help scientists predict how open-ocean ecosystems could respond to global warming. Full Story

Source
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute

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