Award: OCE-1446327

Intellectual Merit Iron is an essential micronutrient for marine phytoplankton that play a key role in the global carbon cycle and marine ecosystems. It is now well established that low iron concentrations limit primary production in major regions of the ocean, and can regulate phytoplankton processes in a number of other oceanic settings. Given the importance of iron in regulating the growth and species composition of marine phytoplankton, there is a need to better constrain the sources and sinks of this essential micronutrient in the oceans. In particular, iron-binding organic molecules called ligands are a universal feature of seawater iron chemistry and complicate studies of iron cycling in the oceans. This project employed a series of laboratory and field experiments to directly assess sources of iron-binding ligands in the marine environment and the role of ligand production in the supply and cycling of iron in the oceans. Project results continue to be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national science conferences in the U.S. and Canada, and in university seminars. Broader Impacts Education, outreach and training have been an integral component of project activities. Project results were incorporated into a trace metal biogeochemistry lecture for a graduate level core course in chemical oceanography at the University of South Florida (USF). Concepts and research activities of this project were incorporated into a new hands-on chemistry laboratory for middle school girls as part of annual mentoring activities with the USF Oceanography Camp for Girls. Project data will be made publicly available via the Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (www.bco-dmo.org) as publications are finalized. Three USF graduate students and three research technicians received training and education in field and experimental work as part of this project. Last Modified: 12/19/2017 Submitted by: Kristen N Buck