A model system approach to biological climate forcing: the example of Emiliania huxleyi
Rijssel, M. van and Zonneveld, C. (eds) 2001.
A model system approach to biological climate forcing:
the example of Emiliania huxleyi.
Technical Report Dutch National Research Programme on Global Air Pollution and Climate Change: number 410 200 082 (isbn 90 5851 063 8)
Abstract
In this report the progress is described that has been made in the
formulation of the Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) Theory that now
includes photosynthesis, nutrient limitation and calcification. On top
of this the next level of organisation was explored in the adaptation
of the model towards a small ecosystem comprising an autotrophic and a
heterotrophic organism together with a decomposer, -the dynamics of
biomass in vertical profiles has been analysed. At the same time
experiments were conducted with E. huxleyi in order to be able to
validate the DEB-models at the organismic level. The experiments
involved exploration of the genes that control calcification,
photosynthesis and nutrition, a detailed description of growth based
on chemostat experiments, and an inventory of environmental factors
that determine the production of dimethylsulfoniopropionate, the
precursor of the biogenic gas dimethylsufide (DMS) that regulates
climate once it has reached the atmosphere acting as a source of cloud
condensation nuclei.