Conte Maureen H.

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Conte

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Maureen H.

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Scavenging, cycling and removal fluxes of 210Po and 210Pb at the Bermuda time-series study site

( 2012-11-14) Hong, G. H. ; Baskaran, Mark ; Church, Thomas M. ; Conte, Maureen H.

Quantifying relative affinities of Po and Pb in different populations of marine particulate matter is of great importance in utilizing 210Po as a tracer for carbon cycling. We collected and analyzed water samples for the concentrations of dissolved and total 210Po and 30 210Pb from the upper 600 m of the water column at Bermuda Time-series Study site (September 1999 to September 2000) to investigate their seasonality of concentrations and their activity ratio (210Po/210Pb activity ratio, AR). Sinking particles collected in sediment traps at depths of 500 m, 1500 m, and 3200 m from the Oceanic Flux Program (OFP) time-series sediment traps were analyzed over a period of 12 months (May 1999 to May 2000). The objective was to compare the deficiencies of 210Po with respect to 210Pb in the water column to that measured in the sediment traps and to assess the relative affinities of Po and Pb with different particle pools. Inventories of 210Po in the upper 500 m water column varied by a factor of 2, indicating seasonal variations of particulate flux dominated the removal of 210Po. The 210Po/210Pb ARs in the dissolved phase were generally less than the secular equilibrium value (1.0) in the upper 600 m, while were generally greater than 1.0 in the particulate phase, indicating higher removal rates of 210Po relative to 210Pb by particulate matter. The measured fluxes of 210Po and 210Pb in the 500 m, 1500 m, and 3200 m traps increased with depth, while the 210Po/210Pb ARs decreased with depth except from May-August 1999. From the measured fluxes of 210Po and 210Pb at these three traps and the concentrations of 210Po and 210Pb in the water column, this region appears to be a sink for 210Pb which is likely brought-in by lateral advection.
Hurricanes enhance labile carbon export to the deep ocean

(American Geophysical Union, 2019-08-16) Pedrosa-Pamies, Rut ; Conte, Maureen H. ; Weber, John C. ; Johnson, Rodney

Tropical cyclones (hurricanes) generate intense surface ocean cooling and vertical mixing resulting in nutrient upwelling into the photic zone and episodic phytoplankton blooms. However, their influence on the deep ocean remains unknown. Here we present evidence that hurricanes also impact the ocean's biological pump by enhancing export of labile organic material to the deep ocean. In October 2016, Category 3 Hurricane Nicole passed over the Bermuda Time Series site in the oligotrophic NW Atlantic Ocean. Following Nicole's passage, particulate fluxes of lipids diagnostic of fresh phytodetritus, zooplankton, and microbial biomass increased by 30–300% at 1,500 m depth and 30–800% at 3,200 m depth. Mesopelagic suspended particles following Nicole were also enriched in phytodetrital material and in zooplankton and bacteria lipids, indicating particle disaggregation and a deepwater ecosystem response. Predicted climate‐induced increases in hurricane frequency and/or intensity may significantly alter ocean biogeochemical cycles by increasing the strength of the biological pump.
Variability in the carbon isotopic composition of foliage carbon pools (soluble carbohydrates, waxes) and respiration fluxes in southeastern U.S. pine forests

(American Geophysical Union, 2012-04-19) Mortazavi, Behzad ; Conte, Maureen H. ; Chanton, Jeffrey P. ; Weber, John C. ; Martin, Timothy A. ; Cropper, Wendell P.

We measured the δ13C of assimilated carbon (foliage organic matter (δCOM), soluble carbohydrates (δCSC), and waxes (δCW)) and respiratory carbon (foliage (δCFR), soil (δCSR) and ecosystem 13CO2 (δCER)) for two years at adjacent ecosystems in the southeastern U.S.: a regenerated 32 m tall mature Pinus palustris forest, and a mid-rotation 13 m tall Pinus elliottii stand. Carbon pools and foliage respiration in P. palustris were isotopically enriched by 2‰ relative to P. elliottii. Despite this enrichment, mean δCER values of the two sites were nearly identical. No temporal trends were apparent in δCSC, δCFR, δCSR and δCER. In contrast, δCOM and δCW at both sites declined by approximately 2‰ over the study. This appears to reflect the adjustment in the δ13C of carbon storage reserves used for biosynthesis as the trees recovered from a severe drought prior to our study. Unexpectedly, the rate of δ13C decrease in the secondary C32–36 n-alkanoic acid wax molecular cluster was twice that observed for δCOM and the predominant C22–26 compound cluster, and provides new evidence for parallel but separate wax chain elongation systems utilizing different carbon precursor pools in these species. δCFR and δCER were consistently enriched relative to assimilated carbon but, in contrast to previous studies, showed limited variations in response to changes in vapor pressure deficit (D). This limited variability in respiratory fluxes and δCSC may be due to the shallow water table as well as the deep taproots of pines, which limit fluctuations in photosynthetic discrimination arising from changes in D.
Mass flux and concentrations of bulk components (Carbonate, Organic Carbon/Nitrogen, Lithogenics, Opal) and elements in the flux at 500m, 1500m and 3200m depths from the OFP sediment trap time-series in the northern Sargasso Sea

(Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO). Contact: bco-dmo-data@whoi.edu, 2022-08-30) Conte, Maureen H.

This dataset includes mass flux and concentrations of bulk components (Carbonate, Organic Carbon/Nitrogen, Lithogenics, Opal) and elements in the flux at 500m, 1500m, and 3200m depths from the Ocean Flux Program (OFP) sediment trap time-series in the northern Sargasso Sea. For a complete list of measurements, refer to the full dataset description in the supplemental file 'Dataset_description.pdf'. The most current version of this dataset is available at: https://www.bco-dmo.org/dataset/784396
Primary particle flux data (500, 1500, and 3200m depths) of the OFP sediment trap time-series in the northern Sargasso Sea from 1978-2018

(Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO). Contact: bco-dmo-data@whoi.edu, 2022-09-09) Conte, Maureen H.

This is primary particle flux data (500, 1500, and 3200m depths) of the Ocean Flux Program (OFP) sediment trap time-series in the northern Sargasso Sea from 1978-2018. For a complete list of measurements, refer to the full dataset description in the supplemental file 'Dataset_description.pdf'. The most current version of this dataset is available at: https://www.bco-dmo.org/dataset/704722
Primary particle flux data (500, 1500, and 3200m depths) of the OFP sediment trap time-series in the northern Sargasso Sea from 1978-2020

(Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO). Contact: bco-dmo-data@whoi.edu, 2022-10-24) Conte, Maureen H.

This is primary particle flux data (500, 1500, and 3200m depths) of the Ocean Flux Program (OFP) sediment trap time-series in the northern Sargasso Sea from 1978-2020. For a complete list of measurements, refer to the full dataset description in the supplemental file 'Dataset_description.pdf'. The most current version of this dataset is available at: https://www.bco-dmo.org/dataset/704722
Particle Flux in the deep Sargasso Sea : the 35-Year Oceanic Flux Program time series

(The Oceanography Society, 2014-03) Conte, Maureen H. ; Weber, John C.

The Oceanic Flux Program (OFP) sediment trap time series, the longest running time series of its kind, has continuously measured particle fluxes in the deep Sargasso Sea since 1978. OFP results provided the first direct observation of seasonality in the deep ocean, and they have documented the tight coupling between deep fluxes and upper ocean processes and the intensity of biological reprocessing of sinking flux in the ocean interior. The synergy among OFP and other research programs co-located at the Bermuda time-series site has provided unprecedented opportunities to study the linkages among ocean physics, biology, and chemistry; particle flux generation; and particle recycling in the ocean interior. The OFP time series is beginning to reveal how basin-scale climatic forcing, such as the North Atlantic Oscillation, affects the deep particle flux.
Global temperature calibration of the alkenone unsaturation index (UK′37) in surface waters and comparison with surface sediments

(American Geophysical Union, 2006-02-07) Conte, Maureen H. ; Sicre, Marie-Alexandrine ; Ruhlemann, Carsten ; Weber, John C. ; Schulte, Sonja ; Schulz-Bull, Detlef ; Blanz, Thomas

In this paper, we compile the current surface seawater C37 alkenone unsaturation (UK′37) measurements (n=629, −1 to 30°C temperature range) to derive a global, field-based calibration of UK′37 with alkenone production temperature. A single nonlinear “global” surface water calibration of UK′37 accurately predicts alkenone production temperatures over the diversity of modern-day oceanic environments and alkenone-synthesizing populations (T=−0.957 + 54.293(UK′37) − 52.894(UK′37)2 + 28.321(UK′37)3, r2=0.97, n=567). The mean standard error of estimation is 1.2°C with insignificant bias in estimated production temperature among the different ocean regions sampled. An exception to these trends is regions characterized by strong lateral advection and extreme productivity and temperature gradients (e.g., the Brazil-Malvinas Confluence). In contrast to the surface water data, the calibration of UK′37 in surface sediments with overlying annual mean sea surface temperature (AnnO) is best fit by a linear model (AnnO=29.876(UK′37) − 1.334, r2=0.97, n=592). The standard error of estimation (1.1°C) is similar to that of the surface water production calibration, but a higher degree of bias is observed among the regional data sets. The sediment calibration differs significantly from the surface water calibration. UK′37 in surface sediments is consistently higher than that predicted from AnnO and the surface water production temperature calibration, and the magnitude of the offset increases as the surface water AnnO decreases. We apply the global production temperature calibration to the coretop UK′37 data to estimate the coretop alkenone integrated production temperature (coretop IPT) and compare this with the overlying annual mean sea surface temperature (AnnO). We use simple models to explore the possible causes of the deviation observed between the coretop temperature signal, as estimated by UK′37, and AnnO. Our results indicate that the deviation can best be explained if seasonality in production and/or thermocline production as well as differential degradation of 37:3 and 37:2 alkenones both affect the sedimentary alkenone signal.
Sugars as source indicators of biogenic organic carbon in aerosols collected above the Howland Experimental Forest, Maine

( 2005-10-25) Medeiros, Patricia M. ; Conte, Maureen H. ; Weber, John C. ; Simoneit, Bernd R. T.

Bulk aerosols (> 1 μm) were collected continuously above the canopy at the Howland Experimental Forest, Maine, USA from May to October 2002. Each sample integrated over an approximately two-week period. Mono- and disaccharide sugars were extracted using a microscale technique and were analyzed as their TMS derivatives by GC-MS. Concentrations of total aerosol sugars ranged from 10 to 180 ng m-3. Glucose was the most abundant sugar (40-75% of the total sugars). The monosaccharides arabinose, fructose, galactose, mannose, arabitol and mannitol, and the disaccharides sucrose, maltose and mycose (aka trehalose) were also present in lower concentrations. The sugar composition in the aerosols varied seasonally. Fructose and sucrose were prevalent in early spring and decreased in relative abundance as the growing season progressed. Sugar polyols (arabitol and mannitol) and the disaccharide mycose (a fungal metabolite) were more prevalent in autumn during the period of leaf senescence. The changes in the sugar composition in the aerosol samples appear to reflect the seasonality of sugar production and utilization by the ecosystem. Plant waxes were present as significant components also indicating an input from biogenic background. Smoke plumes from Quebec forest fires passed over the Howland site in early July 2002. Levoglucosan, a biomarker of biomass burning, increased by an order of magnitude in the aerosol samples collected during this time. Glucose, mannose, arabinose, galactose, and also, plant waxes increased in concentration by factors of 2-5 in the smoke-impacted samples, indicating that wildfires enhance atmospheric emissions of uncombusted organic compounds. In contrast, concentrations of fructose, sugar polyols and disaccharides were not significantly higher in the smoke-impacted samples and indicated that biomass burning was not a significant source of these compounds in the aerosols.
Open ocean particle flux variability from surface to seafloor

(American Geophysical Union, 2021-04-18) Cael, B. Barry ; Bisson, Kelsey ; Conte, Maureen H. ; Duret, Manon T. ; Follett, Christopher L. ; Henson, Stephanie A. ; Honda, Makio C. ; Iversen, Morten H. ; Karl, David M. ; Lampitt, Richard S. ; Mouw, Colleen B. ; Muller-Karger, Frank E. ; Pebody, Corinne ; Smith, Kenneth L., Jr. ; Talmy, David

The sinking of carbon fixed via net primary production (NPP) into the ocean interior is an important part of marine biogeochemical cycles. NPP measurements follow a log-normal probability distribution, meaning NPP variations can be simply described by two parameters despite NPP's complexity. By analyzing a global database of open ocean particle fluxes, we show that this log-normal probability distribution propagates into the variations of near-seafloor fluxes of particulate organic carbon (POC), calcium carbonate, and opal. Deep-sea particle fluxes at subtropical and temperate time-series sites follow the same log-normal probability distribution, strongly suggesting the log-normal description is robust and applies on multiple scales. This log-normality implies that 29% of the highest measurements are responsible for 71% of the total near-seafloor POC flux. We discuss possible causes for the dampening of variability from NPP to deep-sea POC flux, and present an updated relationship predicting POC flux from mineral flux and depth.
Editorial: the oceanic particle flux and its cycling within the deep water column

(Frontiers Media, 2022-09-09) Conte, Maureen H. ; Pedrosa-Pamies, Rut ; Honda, Makio C. ; Herndl, Gerhard J.

The oceanic particle flux transfers energy and material from the surface through the water column to the seafloor. (See review by Conte (2019) and references therein). The particle flux fuels life below the sunlit photic zone, exerts a major control on the global cycling of carbon and particle-associated elements, and also plays a major role in long-term carbon sequestration. In this Research Topic we present a collection of articles that provide a broad overview of current research on the interlinked processes controlling the magnitude and composition of the oceanic particle flux, and its cycling and depth attenuation within the deep water column.
Mycorrhizal fungi supply nitrogen to host plants in Arctic tundra and boreal forests : 15N is the key signal

(NRC Research Press, 2009-02-03) Hobbie, John E. ; Hobbie, Erik A. ; Drossman, Howard ; Conte, Maureen H. ; Weber, John C. ; Shamhart, Julee ; Weinrobe, Melissa

Symbiotic fungi’s role in providing nitrogen to host plants is well-studied in tundra at Toolik Lake, Alaska, but little-studied in the adjoining boreal forest ecosystem. Along a 570 km north–south transect from the Yukon River to the North Slope of Alaska, the 15N content was strongly reduced in ectomycorrhizal and ericoid mycorrhizal plants including Betula, Salix, Picea mariana (P. Mill.) B.S.P., Picea glauca Moench (Voss), and ericaceous plants. Compared with the 15N content of soil, the foliage of nonmycorrhizal plants (Carex and Eriophorum) was unchanged, whereas content of the ectomycorrhizal fungi was very much higher (e.g., Boletaceae, Leccinum and Cortinarius). It is hypothesized that similar processes operate in tundra and boreal forest, both nitrogen-limited ecosystems: (i) mycorrhizal fungi break down soil polymers and take up amino acids or other nitrogen compounds; (ii) mycorrhizal fungi fractionate against 15N during production of transfer compounds; (iii) host plants are accordingly depleted in 15N; and (iv) mycorrhizal fungi are enriched in 15N. Increased N availability for plant roots or decreased light availability to understory plants may have decreased N allocation to mycorrhizal partners and increased δ15N by 3‰–4‰ for southern populations of Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. and Salix. Fungal biomass, measured as ergosterol, correlated strongly with soil organic matter and attained amounts similar to those in temperate forest soils.
Fluxes of lipid biomarkers from the Oceanic Flux Program sediment trap time-series in the North Sargasso Sea from September to December 2016

(Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO). Contact: bco-dmo-data@whoi.edu, 2019-09-04) Pedrosa-Pamies, Rut ; Conte, Maureen H.

Fluxes of lipid biomarkers in the 1500 m and 3200 m Oceanic Flux Program sediment traps in the northern Sargasso Sea, before, during and after of Hurricane Nicole 2016 (Sep-Dec 2016) For a complete list of measurements, refer to the full dataset description in the supplemental file 'Dataset_description.pdf'. The most current version of this dataset is available at: https://www.bco-dmo.org/dataset/775902
Calcification and growth processes in planktonic foraminifera complicate the use of B/Ca and U/Ca as carbonate chemistry proxies

(Elsevier, 2016-06-08) Salmon, Kate H. ; Anand, Pallavi ; Sexton, Philip F. ; Conte, Maureen H.

Although boron and uranium to calcium ratios (B/Ca, U/Ca) in planktonic foraminifera have recently received much attention as potential proxies for ocean carbonate chemistry, the extent of a carbonate chemistry control on these ratios remains contentious. Here, we use bi-weekly sediment trap samples collected from the subtropical North Atlantic in combination with measured oceanographic data from the same location to evaluate the dominant oceanographic controls on B/Ca and U/Ca in three depth-stratified species of planktonic foraminifera. We also test the control of biological, growth-related, processes on planktonic foraminiferal B and U incorporation by using foraminifer test area density (μg/μm2)(μg/μm2) (a monitor of test thickness) and test size from the same samples. B/Ca and U/Ca show little or no significant correlation with carbonate system parameters both within this study and in comparison with other published works. We provide the first evidence for a strong positive relationship between area density (test thickness) and B/Ca, and reveal that this is consistent in all species studied, suggesting a likely role for calcification in controlling boron partitioning into foraminiferal calcite. This finding is consistent with previous observations of less efficient discrimination against trace element ‘impurities’ (such as B), at higher calcification rates. We observe little or no dependency of B/Ca on test size. In marked contrast, we find that U/Ca displays a strong species-specific dependency on test size in all species, but no relationship with test thickness, implicating some other biological control (possibly related to growth), rather than a calcification control, on U incorporation into foraminiferal calcite. Our results caution against the use of B/Ca and U/Ca in planktonic foraminifera as reliable proxies for the ocean carbonate system and recommend that future work should concentrate on improving the mechanistic understanding of how planktonic foraminifer calcification and growth rates regulate boron and uranium incorporation into the test.

Conte Maureen H.

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