Dataset: Cell counts from an experiment examining the effect of Sr on the coccolithophore Scyphosphaera apsteinii calcification

Experiment Overview:
The effect of strontium (Sr) on the coccolithophore Scyphosphaera apsteinii calcification was assessed over a 10 d period. This species of coccolithophore has unusually high levels of Sr in its calcite coccoliths as detected with Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), whereas Si levels are undetectable with EDS. The goal of the experiment was to determine whether Sr in seawater plays a significant role in coccolith production and/or coccolith crystal morphology. S. apsteinii was acclimated and grown in a range of Sr concentrations (deplete: 0.33 mmol/mol Sr/Ca, ambient: 9 mmol/mol Sr/Ca, and higher than ambient: 36 and 72 mmol/mol Sr/Ca). All treatments had four replicate flasks. Aliquots of cultures for cell counts and Fv/Fm were taken every two days between the start (T0 for cell counts, T4 for Fv/Fm) and end (T10) of the experiment. When cells were at mid-exponential phase (T4-T6) aliquots were collected for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and EDS analysis to observe morphology and determine Sr incorporation into calcite coccoliths, respectively.

The laboratory experiments were conducted in March 2019 at the University of North Carolina - Wilmington. SEM/EDS analysis was done at the Analytical Instrumentation Facility at NC State from April 19th to May 9th, 2019.

Cell Counting:
Cells were counted on each collection day using a hemocytometer or Sedgwick-Rafter chamber. A minimum of 300 cells were counted per sample. Growth curves were plotted and specific growth rates were calculated for each species throughout the 8 d sampling period.