Abstract:
Iron limitation has emerged as a pivotal concept in oceanography, fundamentally altering our understanding of marine productivity and biogeochemical cycling. Studies have demonstrated that iron availability regulates primary productivity and critical elemental cycles across over one-third of the global ocean, positioning iron as a key factor in oceanic carbon sequestration. Given that the ocean absorbs roughly 30% of anthropogenic CO2 emissions, elucidating the dynamics of iron biogeochemistry is essential for advancing the efficacy of Blue Carbon strategies. Despite its significance, the majority of research has concentrated on high-nutrient, low-chlorophyll (HNLC) regions, leaving the subtropical surface waters relatively understudied. In this talk, I will present recent findings from our field and laboratory research on iron cycling in the ocean, focusing on three topics: (1) the transport, solubility, and transformation of aerosol-derived iron in the surface waters; (2) the role of iron in enhancing seaweed growth and its implications for carbon dioxide removal; and (3) the physiological responses of Symbiodinium to iron availability under thermal and light stress. These insights aim to deepen our understanding of iron's ecological roles beyond the traditional HNLC paradigm and explore its broader significance in subtropical ecosystems and its implication on ocean-based carbon dioxide removal.
 
Biography:
Prof. Tung-Yuan Ho is a research fellow at the Research Center for Environmental Changes, Academia Sinica, and a professor at the Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University. He obtained his Ph.D. from the Marine Sciences Research Center at the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 2000. His research focuses on marine biogeochemistry, particularly the cycling mechanisms of trace metals and their ecological impacts in marine environments. Prof. Ho's notable studies include the role of trace metals in nitrogen fixation and hydrogen production in marine cyanobacteria, as well as the effects of anthropogenic aerosol deposition on trace metal cycling in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean. He has published extensively in leading journals and is actively involved in international scientific committees. His work contributes significantly to understanding marine sustainability and environmental resilience.

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