Phytoplankton Carbon Utilization Strategies and Effects on Carbon Fixation

Abstract

Phytoplankton have a crucial role in the conversion of greenhouse gas sources and sinks in natural water bodies, such as lakes, rivers, and oceans. In response to environmental changes, phytoplankton adapt by altering their carbon utilization strategies, which affect carbon sequestration rates and carbon fluxes at the water–air interface. This paper classifies and summarizes the main carbon utilization strategies of phytoplankton in terms of carbon acquisition, carbon metabolism, and carbon emission. Their carbon acquisition strategy determines their carbon uptake rate, while their carbon metabolism strategy affects their carbon sequestration potential. Moreover, their carbon emission strategy determines the final net carbon sequestration. A systematic study of phytoplankton carbon utilization strategies is important for the development of phytoplankton-based wastewater treatment technologies, understanding of algal greenhouse gas fixation, and assessment of greenhouse gas sources and sinks in natural water bodies. This article provides a comprehensive understanding of the ecological role of phytoplankton in natural water bodies and offers valuable references for related research. Furthermore, our research sheds light on the carbon metabolism and emission processes of phytoplankton. By analyzing the carbon metabolism and emission of phytoplankton under different carbon utilization strategies, we can more accurately evaluate the impact of phytoplankton on the carbon cycle in natural water bodies, which can contribute to environmental protection and sustainable development.

Assessment of the impact of organic matter discharges from a nuclear power plant with a recirculating cooling water system

“…Most of OM entering the river originates from soil mobilization and rock weathering; it includes plant-derived OM, soil-microbial OM and petrogenic OM, as well as aquatic OM produced in lakes and streams. In rivers, OM can be transported as particulate OM or dissolved OM, with particulate OM often containing old, degraded plant and soil material, whereas dissolved OM is generally younger, according to (Wang et al, 2023). The seasonal increase in OM content during warm periods of the year was attributed by Shi et al (2019) to the production and destruction processes that occur during the photosynthetic activity of phytoplankton, as shown in the study by (Debska et al, 2021), and the decrease in OM content in autumn and winter indicates the natural self-puri cation capacity of the water body.…”