Abstract
We determined growth rates of six coccolithophorid strains (five species) as a function of temperature. We grew four strains (three species: Emiliania huxleyi, Gephyrocapsa oceanica, and two strains of Calcidiscus leptoporus) at six temperatures between 6°C and 25°C, Coccolithus braarudii at four temperatures, and Syracosphaera pulchra at two temperatures. The growth rates were to a large extent consistent with the biogeographical distributions of these species. C. braarudii grows relatively fast at low temperatures, the two strains of C. leptoporus have temperature optima of 12°C and 20°C, E. huxleyi has an optimum at 20°C, and the growth rate of G. oceanica (and S. pulchra) increases up to the highest tested temperature of 25°C. This shows that maximum growth rate is an important factor in controlling distribution in the ocean, but it is not the only one.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1181-1185 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Limnology and Oceanography |
Volume | 53 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - May 2008 |