Cell Size as a Key Determinant of Phytoplankton Metabolism and Community Structure

Marañón, Emilio

doi:10.1146/annurev-marine-010814-015955

Cited by 514Marine and coastal ecosystemsAquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton DynamicsMicrobial Community Ecology and Physiology

Cell Size as a Key Determinant of Phytoplankton Metabolism and Community Structure

Marañón, Emilio·2015·Annual Review of Marine Science

DOI 10.1146/annurev-marine-010814-015955

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Abstract

Phytoplankton size structure controls the trophic organization of planktonic communities and their ability to export biogenic materials toward the ocean's interior. Our understanding of the mechanisms that drive the variability in phytoplankton size structure has been shaped by the assumption that the pace of metabolism decreases allometrically with increasing cell size. However, recent field and laboratory evidence indicates that biomass-specific production and growth rates are similar in both small and large cells but peak at intermediate cell sizes. The maximum nutrient uptake rate scales isometrically with cell volume and superisometrically with the minimum nutrient quota. The unimodal size scaling of phytoplankton growth arises from ataxonomic, size-dependent trade-off processes related to nutrient requirement, acquisition, and use. The superior ability of intermediate-size cells to exploit high nutrient concentrations explains their biomass dominance during blooms. Biogeographic patterns in phytoplankton size structure and growth rate are independent of temperature and driven mainly by changes in resource supply.

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Authors: Marañón, E.
Affiliations: Departamento de Ecología y Biología Animal, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain;
Venue: Annual Review of Marine Science
Publisher: Annual Reviews
Published: 2015-01-03
Volume: 7
Issue: 1
Pages: 241-264
ISSN: 1941-0611 (ISSN-L)
1941-1405
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-marine-010814-015955
OpenAlex: W2124304330
Cited by: 514
References: 131
Citations by year: 2026: 37 · 2025: 62 · 2024: 60 · 2023: 45 · 2022: 52 · 2021: 50 · 2020: 51 · 2019: 37 · 2018: 49 · 2017: 31 · 2016: 26 · 2015: 14
FWCI: 2.09
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Annual Review of Marine Science (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Oceanography › Marine and coastal ecosystems
Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
Keywords: phytoplankton size structure, cell size, phytoplankton metabolism, allometric scaling, nutrient uptake rate, growth rate, phytoplankton blooms, trophic organization, resource supply, biogeographic patterns
MeSH terms: Energy Metabolism, Environmental Monitoring, Eutrophication, Models, Theoretical, Oceans and Seas, Phytoplankton, Seawater, Biomass

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Cell Size as a Key Determinant of Phytoplankton Metabolism and Community Structure

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