The production of non-methane hydrocarbons by marine plankton

The oceans are a small source of non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC), a suite of volatile organics whose chemical destruction mechanism by reaction with hydroxyl radical can significantly affect the oxidation capacity of the atmosphere. Little is known about the water column cycling processes that constrain this source; previous work has established a photochemical source for many alkenes, and a phytoplanktonic source for isoprene. The focus of this thesis was to gain further insight on marine microbiological cycling of NMHC. This included investigations on two main themes. The first was the effect of different physiological conditions on phytoplanktonic isoprene production. A variety of phytoplankton were examined for the ability to produce isoprene. All were found to have constant isoprene production rates per cell during exponential growth, with decreasing rates as the populations senesced. A positive allometric relationship between isoprene production rate and cell volume was found; highest production rates were found for the largest cell tested, Emiliania huxleyi, and lowest rates for Prochlorococcus, the smallest. Isoprene production in Prochlorococcus was found to be a function of light intensity and temperature, with patterns similar to the relationships between growth rate of this species and these environmental parameters. The second theme investigated was the effect that heterotrophic marine plankton might have on NMHC cycling. We detected no clear production or consumption of any NMHC, except isoprene, from any of the phytoplankton or other organisms tested.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2001

Author dc:creator

• Shaw, Stephanie Lyn, 1973-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Ronald G. Prinn.

• Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/8255

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/8255