Articles | Volume 12, issue 21
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-6493-2015
© Author(s) 2015. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-6493-2015
© Author(s) 2015. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Research article
| 
13 Nov 2015
Research article |
| 13 Nov 2015
Phytoplankton calcification as an effective mechanism to alleviate cellular calcium poisoning
M. N. Müller
Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
Institute of Oceanography, University of São Paulo, Praça do Oceanográfico 191, 05508-120 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
J. Barcelos e Ramos
Centre of Climate, Meteorology and Global Change (CMMG), University of Azores, Rua do Capitão d'Ávila, Pico da Urze 970-0042 Angra do Heroísmo, Açores, Portugal
K. G. Schulz
Centre for Coastal Biogeochemistry, School of Environmental Science and Management, Southern Cross University, P.O. Box 157, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia
U. Riebesell
GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany
J. Kaźmierczak
Institute of Paleobiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warsaw, Poland
F. Gallo
Centre of Climate, Meteorology and Global Change (CMMG), University of Azores, Rua do Capitão d'Ávila, Pico da Urze 970-0042 Angra do Heroísmo, Açores, Portugal
L. Mackinder
Department of Plant Biology, Carnegie Institution, 260 Panama Street, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
Y. Li
Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science (ACROSS), School of Chemistry, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 75, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
P. N. Nesterenko
Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science (ACROSS), School of Chemistry, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 75, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
T. W. Trull
Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, University of Tasmania and CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
G. M. Hallegraeff
Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
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Cited
21 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Corals feel the water chemistry: trace elements in coral skeletons reflect accurately their seawater chemistry, biological and geochemical implications S. Ram & J. Erez 10.1016/j.gca.2025.05.003
- On the Genesis and Function of Coccolithophore Calcification M. Müller 10.3389/fmars.2019.00049
- Over-calcified forms of the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi in high-CO2 waters are not preadapted to ocean acidification P. von Dassow et al. 10.5194/bg-15-1515-2018
- Calibration of Na partitioning in the calcitic foraminifer Operculina ammonoides under variable Ca concentration: Toward reconstructing past seawater composition H. Hauzer et al. 10.1016/j.epsl.2018.06.004
- Anion elements incorporation into corals skeletons: Experimental approach for biomineralization and paleo-proxies S. Ram & J. Erez 10.1073/pnas.2306627120
- Nutrient-specific responses of a phytoplankton community: a case study of the North Atlantic Gyre, Azores J. Barcelos e Ramos et al. 10.1093/plankt/fbx025
- The requirement for calcification differs between ecologically important coccolithophore species C. Walker et al. 10.1111/nph.15272
- Stable isotope fractionation of strontium in coccolithophore calcite: Influence of temperature and carbonate chemistry M. Müller et al. 10.1111/gbi.12276
- Environmental and physiological conditions that led to the rise of calcifying nannoplankton in the Late Triassic S. Hohn et al. 10.3389/feart.2023.747059
- Do photosynthetic cells communicate with each other during cell death? From cyanobacteria to vascular plants A. Aguilera et al. 10.1093/jxb/erac363
- Calcium content and high calcium adaptation of plants in karst areas of southwestern Hunan, China X. Wei et al. 10.5194/bg-15-2991-2018
- Coral calcification, mucus, and the origin of skeletal organic molecules S. Hohn & C. Reymond 10.1007/s00338-019-01826-4
- Rappemonads are haptophyte phytoplankton M. Kawachi et al. 10.1016/j.cub.2021.03.012
- Coccolithophore Cell Biology: Chalking Up Progress A. Taylor et al. 10.1146/annurev-marine-122414-034032
- De novo transcriptome profile of coccolithophorid alga Emiliania huxleyi CCMP371 at different calcium concentrations with proteome analysis O. Nam et al. 10.1371/journal.pone.0221938
- Controls over δ44/40Ca and Sr/Ca variations in coccoliths: New perspectives from laboratory cultures and cellular models L. Mejía et al. 10.1016/j.epsl.2017.10.013
- Climate engineering by mimicking natural dust climate control: the iron salt aerosol method F. Oeste et al. 10.5194/esd-8-1-2017
- The Possession of Coccoliths Fails to Deter Microzooplankton Grazers K. Mayers et al. 10.3389/fmars.2020.569896
- Testing the Influence of Changing Seawater Ca Concentration on Elements/Ca Ratios in Planktic Foraminifera: A Culture Experiment S. Le Houedec et al. 10.1029/2020GC009496
- Plant adaptability in karst regions C. Liu et al. 10.1007/s10265-021-01330-3
- Contribution of microalgae to carbon sequestration in a natural karst wetland aquatic ecosystem: An in-situ mesocosm study Z. Yan et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144387
20 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Corals feel the water chemistry: trace elements in coral skeletons reflect accurately their seawater chemistry, biological and geochemical implications S. Ram & J. Erez 10.1016/j.gca.2025.05.003
- On the Genesis and Function of Coccolithophore Calcification M. Müller 10.3389/fmars.2019.00049
- Over-calcified forms of the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi in high-CO2 waters are not preadapted to ocean acidification P. von Dassow et al. 10.5194/bg-15-1515-2018
- Calibration of Na partitioning in the calcitic foraminifer Operculina ammonoides under variable Ca concentration: Toward reconstructing past seawater composition H. Hauzer et al. 10.1016/j.epsl.2018.06.004
- Anion elements incorporation into corals skeletons: Experimental approach for biomineralization and paleo-proxies S. Ram & J. Erez 10.1073/pnas.2306627120
- Nutrient-specific responses of a phytoplankton community: a case study of the North Atlantic Gyre, Azores J. Barcelos e Ramos et al. 10.1093/plankt/fbx025
- The requirement for calcification differs between ecologically important coccolithophore species C. Walker et al. 10.1111/nph.15272
- Stable isotope fractionation of strontium in coccolithophore calcite: Influence of temperature and carbonate chemistry M. Müller et al. 10.1111/gbi.12276
- Environmental and physiological conditions that led to the rise of calcifying nannoplankton in the Late Triassic S. Hohn et al. 10.3389/feart.2023.747059
- Do photosynthetic cells communicate with each other during cell death? From cyanobacteria to vascular plants A. Aguilera et al. 10.1093/jxb/erac363
- Calcium content and high calcium adaptation of plants in karst areas of southwestern Hunan, China X. Wei et al. 10.5194/bg-15-2991-2018
- Coral calcification, mucus, and the origin of skeletal organic molecules S. Hohn & C. Reymond 10.1007/s00338-019-01826-4
- Rappemonads are haptophyte phytoplankton M. Kawachi et al. 10.1016/j.cub.2021.03.012
- Coccolithophore Cell Biology: Chalking Up Progress A. Taylor et al. 10.1146/annurev-marine-122414-034032
- De novo transcriptome profile of coccolithophorid alga Emiliania huxleyi CCMP371 at different calcium concentrations with proteome analysis O. Nam et al. 10.1371/journal.pone.0221938
- Controls over δ44/40Ca and Sr/Ca variations in coccoliths: New perspectives from laboratory cultures and cellular models L. Mejía et al. 10.1016/j.epsl.2017.10.013
- Climate engineering by mimicking natural dust climate control: the iron salt aerosol method F. Oeste et al. 10.5194/esd-8-1-2017
- The Possession of Coccoliths Fails to Deter Microzooplankton Grazers K. Mayers et al. 10.3389/fmars.2020.569896
- Testing the Influence of Changing Seawater Ca Concentration on Elements/Ca Ratios in Planktic Foraminifera: A Culture Experiment S. Le Houedec et al. 10.1029/2020GC009496
- Plant adaptability in karst regions C. Liu et al. 10.1007/s10265-021-01330-3
Saved (final revised paper)
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Latest update: 21 Jul 2025
Short summary
The White Cliffs of Dover date back to the Cretaceous and are made up of microscopic chalky shells which were produced mainly by marine phytoplankton (coccolithophores). This is iconic proof for their success at times of relatively high seawater calcium concentrations and, as shown here, to be linked to their ability to precipitate calcium as chalk. The invention of calcification can thus be considered an evolutionary milestone allowing coccolithophores to thrive at times when others struggled.
The White Cliffs of Dover date back to the Cretaceous and are made up of microscopic chalky...
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