title: Linking the distribution of (210)Po and (210)Pb with plankton community along Line P, Northeast Subarctic Pacific.
abstract: Depth profiles of (210)Po and (210)Pb activity and phytoplankton and zooplankton abundance were collected during two cruises along the Canadian time-series Line P in the Northeast Subarctic Pacific (ranging from 48o39 N to 50o00 N and 126o40 W to 145o00 W) in August 2010 and February 2011 to evaluate connections between the planktonic community and distributions of these radionuclides in the upper 500 m of the water column. Statistical analysis indicates that (210)Po is more effectively removed from the surface ocean when large (>0.1 mg ind(-1) dry wt) zooplankton dominate, and is less effectively scavenged when the picoplankton Synechococcus is present at high concentrations (>1 × 10(5) cells ml(-1)). While the zooplankton field data are consistent with previous lab studies and field observations, the phytoplankton results seem to conflict with recent evidence that small cells may contribute significantly to export in other oligotrophic regions. Differences in ecosystem mechanisms between the Subarctic Pacific and other oligotrophic systems that limit the contribution of small cells to sinking flux remain to be identified.
authors.affiliation: Queens College and Graduate Center, City University of New York, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, NY 11367, USA.
authors.forename: Hiu Yan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Queens College and Graduate Center, City University of New York, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, NY 11367, USA. Electronic address: gstewart@qc.cuny.edu.
authors.forename: Gillian M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.affiliation: Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, 17 Biological Station, Ferry Reach, St George's GE 01, Bermuda.
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Lomas
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI 02882, USA.
authors.forename: Roger P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI 02882, USA.
authors.forename: S Bradley
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Moran
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D005843:Geography; D007856:Lead Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D010140:Pacific Ocean; D010839:Phytoplankton / Q000502:physiology*; D011059:Polonium / Q000032:analysis*; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011849:Radioactive Tracers; D012621:Seasons; D015048:Zooplankton / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007856:Lead Radioisotopes; D011849:Radioactive Tracers; D011059:Polonium
keywords: Ocean Station Papa; Particle export; Plankton; Polonium