The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt (GASB) has seen unprecedented Sargassum proliferation since 2011. This study shows that GASB Sargassum has higher nitrogen and phosphorus content than Sargassum in its Sargasso Sea habitat. Arsenic content in Sargassum reflects phosphorus limitation, following a hyperbolic relationship predicted by Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The nitrogen and phosphorus content, along with isotopic composition, can help identify nutrient sources (atmospheric, oceanic, or riverine).
Publisher
Nature Communications
Published On
Oct 05, 2023
Authors
Dennis Joseph McGillicuddy Jr., Peter Lynn Morton, Rachel Aileen Brewton, Chuanmin Hu, Thomas Bryce Kelly, Andrew Robert Solow, Brian Edward Lapointe
Tags
Sargassum
Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt
nutrient content
phosphorus limitation
Michaelis-Menten kinetics
nutrient sources
isotopic composition
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