Diatoms and the silicate factor

摘要: The paradox of the so-called ‘high-nitrate, low-chlorophyll’ parts ocean is that although most important nutrient, nitrate, available, phytoplankton productivity remains limited. Evidence lack iron responsible has been centre research attention for past few years. But silicate, which diatoms use to make their shells, now also implicated as a limiting factor — at least in part eastern Pacific latest studies were carried out.