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1.
Zooplankton metabolic rates, determined from electron transfer system (ETS) activity, were studied at two seamounts (Seine: 34°N, 14°W, summit depth ∼170 m; Sedlo: 40°N, 27°W, summit depth ∼750 m) in the northeast (NE) Atlantic during three cruises in November 2003, April 2004 and July 2004. ETS activity and respiratory carbon demand were measured for samples taken at seamount and open-ocean locations in order to probe the hypothesis of locally enhanced seamount productivity. ETS activity and biomass revealed no consistent diel patterns of feeding activity and vertical migration at Seine and Sedlo Seamounts. Spatial differences of biomass-specific ETS activity were observed at both seamounts and coincided with differences in food abundance and quality. At Seine Seamount in April 2004, biomass-specific ETS activity was on average higher at the seamount locations compared to the open ocean, though the enhancement was of a lower magnitude than spatial and temporal variability and had no apparent influence on zooplankton respiratory carbon demand or biomass. A persistent pattern of reduced zooplankton biomass above the summit location at Seine Seamount in April 2004 and July 2004 resulted in a local reduction of respiratory carbon demand. At Sedlo Seamount in November 2003, large spatial differences in biomass-specific ETS activity observed at the seamount locations resulted in a large range of respiratory carbon demand at the seamount, but were not reflected in zooplankton biomass. The depth-integrated (0–150 m) median respiratory carbon demand of the zooplankton community estimated from day and night hauls was 2.1 mg C m−2 d−1 at Seine Seamount (range: 0.3–6.3) and 2.9 mg C m−2 d−1 at Sedlo Seamount (range: 1.6–12.0). The sporadic nature and low magnitude of locally higher zooplankton respiration rates at the seamounts, which did not result in locally higher zooplankton standing stock biomass, lead us to reject the hypothesis that locally enhanced seamount productivity provides an autochthonous food supply to the resident faunas at Seine and Sedlo Seamounts. Instead, we conclude that the faunas at both seamounts are more likely supported by advection of food from the surrounding ocean.  相似文献   

2.
Using simultaneous sampling with a commercial-sized trawl, a zooplankton net, and a sediment trap, we evaluated the contribution of vertically migrating micronekton to vertical material transport (biological pump) at two stations (3°00′N, 146°00′E and 3°30′N, 145°20′E) in the western equatorial North Pacific. The gravitational sinking particulate organic carbon flux out of the euphotic zone was 54.8 mg C m−2 day−1. The downward active carbon flux by diel migrant mesozooplankton was 23.53 and 9.97 mg C m−2 day−1, and by micronekton 4.40 and 2.26mg C m−2 day−1 at the two stations. Assuming that the micronekton sampling efficiency of the trawl was 14%, we corrected the downward carbon flux due to micronekton respiration to 29.9 and 15.2mg C m−2 day−1, or 54.6 and 27.7% of the sinking particle flux at the two stations. The corrected micronekton gut fluxes were 1.53 and 0.97mg C m−2 day−1. The role of myctophid fish fecal matter as a possible food resource for deep-sea organisms, based on its fatty acid and amino acid analysis, is discussed.  相似文献   

3.
The generation of internal tidal wave fields by barotropic tidal flow past a representative seamount is computed by modelling the seamount as a pillbox, and linearising the equations for internal wave dynamics. This is justifiable for mid-ocean seamounts, which constitute steep topography for internal waves of tidal frequency. For linearly polarised barotropic tidal flow, the resulting flow field consists of conical beams radiating from the region above the seamount, with largest velocities aligned with the barotropic flow. These beams vary with azimuthal angle but resemble the corresponding beams from two-dimensional steep topography, particularly in the barotropic flow direction. They are primarily forced by the barotropic flow over the seamount, which is amplified by the topography and is independent of the stratification if the radius of the seamount is sufficiently large. In a barotropic tidal flow of 1 cm/s amplitude, energy fluxes from individual seamounts are of order 106 W. Summing this over all seamounts higher than 1 km gives baroclinic energy generation of order 5.109 W, a number that is less than estimates of baroclinic energy flux from the continental slopes and the Hawaiian ridge, but is comparable with them.  相似文献   

4.
The distribution, biomass, and assemblages of vertically migrating micronekton/macrozooplankton were studied in relation to oceanographic conditions around Guam and the adjacent Northern Mariana Islands during Spring 2010, using 3-m2 Isaacs-Kidd Midwater Trawl (IKMT). The study area was located within the oligotrophic waters of the westward flowing North Equatorial Current (NEC). However, southern stations of the survey were situated close to the northern boundary of the more productive North Equatorial Countercurrent (NECC), where we observed the highest biomass, abundance, species richness, and diversity of pelagic organisms. Overall, we recorded 85 species from 20 families of mostly mesopelagic species in the area, with lanternfishes (Myctophidae—40 species) and dragonfishes (Stomiidae—18 species) being the most taxonomically diverse groups. Three genera of mesopelagic shrimps, Sergestes, Janicella and Sergia, dominated the decapod crustacean component of the micronekton community numerically and by biomass, while the contribution from cephalopods was relatively minor. Assemblages of major micronekton/macrozooplankton groups, based on biomass and abundance showed principal changes with latitude. However, the classification and ordination analysis, based on taxonomically resolved taxa (fishes and decapod shrimps), indicated additional zonal variation, with areas east and west of the island chain showing different community structure. The mean total micronekton biomass for the area near the productive boundary region between the NEC and NECC was 5.8 mg/m3, with a mean biomass of 1.2 mg/m3 obtained for stations in the oligotrophic NEC area. The corresponding biomass of mesopelagic fishes was 0.88 mg/m3 and 0.24 mg/m3 for these two areas, respectively. We reviewed and compared the available information on the quantitative distribution of midwater fish biomass in the western tropical Pacific and outlined major patterns of variation in the equatorial Pacific in general.  相似文献   

5.
During different seasons of the years 2003–2005 in the NE Atlantic, zooplankton were sampled with a MOCNESS (multiple opening/closing net and environmental sensing system, mesh size 333 μm) above the slopes and summits of Seine, Sedlo and Ampère seamounts and at remote reference sites outside the influence of the seamounts (far field). Wet weights of different zooplankton size classes (<0.5, 0.5–2, >2 cm) were measured. Night and day hauls were analysed in order to detect diel vertical migrations of the zooplankton, as well as a possible trapping effect due to the shallow topography.Biomass concentrations, independent of daytime, season and summit height, were reduced above the summits at all three seamounts compared to the slope and far-field sites. No trapping effect or retention of biomass was apparent above the seamounts. The vertical distribution patterns of the size class <0.5 cm did not differ between night and day hauls at most sites, but indications of diel vertical migrations were found in the larger size fractions. With the exception of gelatinous organisms, zooplankton >0.5 cm were nearly absent above the summits of Seine and Ampère seamounts, but considerable numbers were found above the slopes and at the far-field sites. Possible explanations for the observed distribution patterns of zooplankton biomass and size classes are discussed, including retention and lateral advection due to the hydrography at the seamounts, as well as predation by resident seamount fish.  相似文献   

6.
We describe the impact of an open-ocean convection event on nutrient budgets, carbon budget, elemental stoichiometry, phytoplankton biomass and activity in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea (NWM). In the convective episode examined here we estimated an input of nutrients to the surface layer of 7.0, 8.0 and 0.4×108 mol of silicate, nitrate and phosphate, respectively. These quantities correspond to the annual nutrient input by river discharges and atmospheric depositions in the Gulf of Lion. Such nutrient input is sufficient to sustain new primary production from 46 to 63 g C m−2 y−1, which is the same order of magnitude found in the NWM open waters. Our results together with satellite data analysis, propose new scenarios that explain the origin of the spring phytoplankton bloom occurring in NWM.  相似文献   

7.
The bathymetric distribution, abundance and diel vertical migrations (DVM) of zooplankton were investigated along the axis of the Cap-Ferret Canyon (Bay of Biscay, French Atlantic coast) by a consecutive series of synchronous net hauls that sampled the whole water column (0–2000 m in depth) during a diel cycle. The distribution of appendicularians (maximum 189 individuals m−3), cladocerans (maximum 287 individuals m−3), copepods (copepods<4 mm, maximum 773 individuals m−3, copepods>4 mm, maximum 13 individuals m−3), ostracods (maximum 8 individuals m−3), siphonophores (maximum >2 individuals m−3) and peracarids (maximum >600 individuals 1000 m−3) were analysed and represented by isoline diagrams. The biomass of total zooplankton (maximum 18419 μg C m−3, 3780 μg N m−3) and large copepods (>4 mm maximum 2256 μg C m−3, 425 μg N m−3) also were determined. Vertical migration was absent or affected only the epipelagic zone for appendicularians, cladocerans, small copepods and siphonophores. Average amplitude of vertical migration was about 400–500 m for ostracods, some hyperiids and mysids, and large copepods, which were often present in the epipelagic, mesopelagic, and bathypelagic zones. Large copepods can constitute more than 80% of the biomass corresponding to total zooplankton. They may play an important role in the active vertical transfer of carbon and nitrogen.  相似文献   

8.
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10.
The latitudinal distributions of phytoplankton biomass, composition and production in the Atlantic Ocean were determined along a 10,000-km transect from 50°N to 50°S in October 1995, May 1996 and October 1996. Highest levels of euphotic layer-integrated chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentration (75–125 mg Chl m−2) were found in North Atlantic temperate waters and in the upwelling region off NW Africa, whereas typical Chl a concentrations in oligotrophic waters ranged from 20 to 40 mg Chl m−2. The estimated concentration of surface phytoplankton carbon (C) biomass was 5–15 mg C m−2 in the oligotrophic regions and increased over 40 mg C m−2 in richer areas. The deep chlorophyll maximum did not seem to constitute a biomass or productivity maximum, but resulted mainly from an increase in the Chl a to C ratio and represented a relatively small contribution to total integrated productivity. Primary production rates varied from 50 mg C m−2 d−1 at the central gyres to 500–1000 mg C m−2 d−1 in upwelling and higher latitude regions, where faster growth rates (μ) of phytoplankton (>0.5 d−1) were also measured. In oligotrophic waters, microalgal growth was consistently slow [surface μ averaged 0.21±0.02 d−1 (mean±SE)], representing <20% of maximum expected growth. These results argue against the view that the subtropical gyres are characterized by high phytoplankton turnover rates. The latitudinal variations in μ were inversely correlated to the changes in the depth of the nitracline and positively correlated to those of the integrated nitrate concentration, supporting the case for the role of nutrients in controlling the large-scale distribution of phytoplankton growth rates. We observed a large degree of temporal variability in the phytoplankton dynamics in the oligotrophic regions: productivity and growth rates varied in excess of 8-fold, whereas microalgal biomass remained relatively constant. The observed spatial and temporal variability in the biomass specific rate of photosynthesis is at least three times larger than currently assumed in most satellite-based models of global productivity.  相似文献   

11.
Zooplankton biomass, gut fluorescence and electron transfer system (ETS) activity were measured in vertical profiles (0–900 m) in two different size classes (<1 and >1 mm) in Canary Island waters. Both size fractions displayed a typical pattern of distribution with higher biomass, gut fluorescence and ETS in the shallower layers at night. By day, however, the vertical distribution varied between the size fractions, with higher biomass of the small fraction in the 0–200 m and a layer of large organisms at depth (∼500 m). For both size fractions, average ETS activity was higher by day than at night at depths between 200 and 600 m. Similarly, gut fluorescence was slightly higher by day below 200 m. The downward export of respiratory carbon was 1.92 and 4.29 mg C m−2 d−1 for samples obtained southwest of Gran Canaria Island and west of Tenerife Island respectively, being 2.68 mg C m−2 d−1 for the whole area. These values represented 16–45% (22–28% for the area) of the calculated passive particulate export production resulting from primary production. The estimated “gut flux” accounted for 0.35 (western zone) and 2.37 mg C m−2 d−1 (southwest of Gran Canaria), being 1.28 mg C m−2 d−1 for the whole area and represented between 3 and 25% (11–14% for the whole area) of the estimated passive particle export flux. These results agree with previous estimates and suggest that diel-migrant zooplankton can play an important role in the downward flux of carbon.  相似文献   

12.
The vertical distribution (0–900 m) of zooplankton biomass and indices of feeding (gut fluorescence, GF) and metabolism (electron transfer system, ETS) were studied across an anticyclonic eddy south of Gran Canaria Island (Canary Islands). Two dense layers of organisms were clearly observed during the day, one above 200 m and the other at about 500 m, coincident with the deep scattering layer (DSL). The biomass displacement due to interzonal migrants in the euphotic zone was more than 2-fold higher than that previously reported for the southern area of this archipelago. The gut flux estimated (0.14–0.44 mgC m−2 d−1) was similar to the values previously found in the Canaries. The respiratory flux outside the eddy (1.85 mgC m−2 d−1) was in the lower range of values reported for this area. Inside the eddy, migrant biomass and respiration rates were 2- and 4- fold higher than in the surrounding waters. Active flux mediated by diel vertical migrants inside the eddy (8.28 mgC m−2 d−1) was up to 53% of the passive carbon flux to the mesopelagic zone (15.8 mgC m−2 d−1). It is, therefore, suggested that the anticyclonic eddy enhanced both migration from deep waters and active flux.  相似文献   

13.
During two cruises to the Greenland Sea, we studied the abundance and biomass of the sea ice biota in summer and late autumn. The mean calculated biomass of the sympagic community was 0.2 g C m−2 ice. Algae contributed on average 43% to total biomass, followed by bacteria (31%), heterotrophic flagellates (20%), and meiofauna (4%). Diatoms were the main primary producers (60% of total algal biomass), but flagellated cells contributed significantly to the algal biomass. Among the meiofauna, ciliates, nematodes, acoel turbellarians and crustaceans were dominant. Calculated potential ingestion rates of meiofauna (0.6 g C m−2 (120 d)−1) are on the same order of magnitude as annual primary production estimates for Arctic multi-year sea ice. We therefore assume that grazing can control biomass accumulation of primary producers inside the sea ice.  相似文献   

14.
Estimates of macrofaunal secondary production and normalized biomass size-spectra (NBSS) were constructed for macrobenthic communities associated with the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) in four areas of the continental margin off Chile. The presence of low oxygen conditions in the Humboldt Current System (HCS) off Chile was shown to have important effects on the size structure and secondary production of the benthic communities living in this ecosystem. The distribution of normalized biomass by size was linear (log2–log2 scale) at all stations. The slope of the NBSS ranged from −0.481 to −0.908. There were significant differences between the slopes of the NBS-spectra from the stations located in the OMZ (slope = −0.837) and those located outside the OMZ (slope = −0.463) (p < 0.05). The results of this study suggest that low oxygen conditions (<0.5 ml L−1) appear to influence biomass size-spectra, because small organisms are better able to satisfy their metabolic demands. The annual secondary production was higher off central Chile (6.8 g C m−2 y−1) than off northern Chile (2.02 g C m−2 y−1) and off southern Chile (0.83 g C m−2 y−1). A comparison with other studies suggests that secondary production in terms of carbon equivalents was higher than in other upwelling regions.  相似文献   

15.
We examined the bioaccumulation and trophic transfer of mercury in two marine finfish species, striped bass (Morone saxatilis) and tautog (Tautoga onitis), collected from the Narragansett Bay (Rhode Island, USA). For each of these target fish, white muscle tissue was analyzed for total mercury (Hg) and results were evaluated relative to fish age, body size, and Hg content of preferred prey. Dietary and stable isotope analysis was also used to elucidate the effect of trophic processes on Hg concentrations in fish. The Hg content of muscle tissue was positively correlated with fish age and length for both species, although striped bass accumulated Hg faster than tautog. Accelerated Hg bioaccumulation in striped bass is consistent with its high trophic level (trophic level = 4.07) and Hg-enriched prey (forage fish and macrocrustaceans; mean Hg content = 0.03 mg Hg kg wet wt?1). In contrast, tautog maintain a lower trophic status (trophic level = 3.51) and consume prey with lower Hg levels (mussels and crabs; mean Hg content = 0.02 mg Hg kg wet wt?1). Despite differences in Hg bioaccumulation between target fish, the mean Hg concentration of tautog exceeded levels in striped bass (0.24 and 0.16 mg Hg kg wet wt?1, respectively) due to a disparity in age-at-catch between sampled groups (mean age of tautog and bass = 11.3 and 4.3 yr, respectively). Taking into account legal minimum catch lengths further revealed that 75.0% of legal-size striped bass (>70.2 cm TL; n = 4) and 44.8% of tautog (>40.6 cm TL; n = 29) had Hg levels beyond the US EPA regulatory threshold of 0.3 mg Hg kg wet wt?1. Moreover, Hg-length relationships suggest that each target fish meets this threshold near their minimum legal catch length. Our findings reiterate the value of species ecology to improve predictions of fish Hg and permit better management of human contamination by this important dietary source.  相似文献   

16.
Investigations of primary production (PP) were undertaken in the southern Benguela ecosystem during two research surveys in October 2006 and May 2007. Significant differences in environmental conditions, as well as biomass and PP, were observed between October and May. During October, integrated biomass and PP were significantly higher, ranging from 20.43 to 355.01 mg m−2, and 0.71 to 6.98 g C m−2 d−1, respectively, than in May, where the range was 47.92–141.79 mg m−2, and 0.70–3.35 g C m−2 d−1, respectively. Distribution patterns indicated low biomass and PP in newly upwelled water along the coast, higher biomass and PP in the mid-shelf region, while lower values were observed at and beyond the shelf edge. Latitudinal variations showed consistently higher biomass and PP in the St. Helena Bay region compared to biomass and PP south of Cape Town. During both surveys, phytoplankton communities were comprised primarily of diatoms and small flagellates, with no significant differences. Phytoplankton adaptation to environmental variability was characterised by increased PmB and Ek under elevated temperatures and irradiance, while no clear relationships were evident for αB. Generalised Additive Models (GAMs) showed that photosynthetic parameters were all significant predictors of photosynthesis rates (Pz), with PmB being the most important, accounting for 36.97% of the deviance in Pz. However, biomass levels and environmental conditions exerted a much greater influence on Pz, with irradiance explaining the largest proportion (68.24%) of the deviance. Multiple predictor GAMs revealed that 96.26% of the deviance in Pz could be explained by a model which included nitrate, chlorophyll a, and irradiance.  相似文献   

17.
Seamounts are thought to support special biological communities, and often maintain high standing stocks of demersal and benthopelagic fishes. Seamount fish fauna have been described in several studies but few works have included species taken below 600 m. The demersal fish assemblages of the Seine and Sedlo seamounts (northeast Atlantic) from the summits to 2000 m depth were investigated based on longline survey catch data, conducted as part of the OASIS project. A total of 41 fish species from 24 families were caught at Seine near Madeira, and 30 species from 19 families were caught at Sedlo north of the Azores. Both fish faunas have high affinities with the neighbouring areas of the Azores, Madeira and with the eastern North Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea. Overall abundances and mean body weights were slightly higher at Sedlo seamount, appearing in conformity with the latitudinal effect of increasing species abundance and productivity from south to north. The differential influence of the Mediterranean Water at each seamount may contribute to explain (a) the differences found in vertical distribution of common species, which tend to distribute deeper at Seine, and (b) the observed changes in the species composition and dominance in deeper waters. Multivariate analysis revealed a vertical structure that is approximately coincident with the expected zonation of water masses at each seamount. Physiological tolerance to the prevailing vertical hydrological conditions may explain the species distribution and the large-scale vertical assemblage structure found. However, further ecological factors like productivity patterns affecting the amount and quality of the available food appear to shape the abundance, diversity or dominance patterns of functional groups within those main assemblages. At Seine, the species Trachurus picturatus dominated the catches, mainly at the shallower edge of the plateau, appearing consistent with the sound-scattering layer interception hypothesis [Isaacs, J.D., Schwartzlose, R.A., 1965. Migrant sound scatterers: interaction with the sea floor. Science 150, 1810–1813]. At both seamounts mesopelagic feeders (e.g., Beryx splendens) dominate the upper-slope assemblages (<800 m), while the mid-slope assemblages (800–1200/1300 m) and the lower-slope assemblages (>1300 m) were dominated by squaliform species (e.g., Centrophorus squamosus, Centroscymnus coelolepis, Etmopterus princeps) along with Mora moro or the Antimora rostrata. The lower abundance of C. squamosus observed at Seine may be a result of the fishing activities in the area, since the species is an important by-catch of the black-scabbard fish fishery in the Madeira archipelago. The slightly higher predominance of scavenger species at Seine in deeper assemblages may be the result of an ecological response favouring this functional group in lower productivity regimes. Especially relevant was the record of large reproductive aggregations of B. splendens and Epigonus telescopus found at the edge of the Sedlo plateau.  相似文献   

18.
Six research cruises were conducted off the west coast of Vancouver Island between April and October of 1997 and 1998 as part of the Canadian GLOBEC project to compare nutrient and phytoplankton dynamics between ENSO (1997) and non-ENSO (1998) years. Limited sampling also was conducted during three cruises in 1999. During the 1997 ENSO period, there was a shallow thermocline (∼10 m) that resulted in a shallower mixed layer, lower salinity and density, and stronger summer stratification. In general on the shelf, the 1997 growing season was characterized by higher nitrate (7.5 μM) and silicic acid (17 μM) concentrations, lower total chlorophyll (∼76 mg m−2), lower phytoplankton carbon biomass (0.2 mg C L−1), and lower diatom abundance and biomass than in 1998. Phytoplankton assemblages were dominated by nanoplankton in 1997 and by diatoms in 1998. These results suggest that the 1997 ENSO was responsible for a reduction in the growth and biomass of larger phytoplankton cells. In mid-1998, the hydrographic characteristics off the west coast of Vancouver Island changed suddenly. The 1997 poleward transport of warm water reversed to an equatorward transport of coastal water in July 1998, which was accompanied by normal summer upwelling. During 1998, a large diatom bloom (mainly dominated by Chaetoceros debilis, Leptocylindrus danicus and to a lesser extent by Skeletomema and Pseudo-nitzschia sp.) was observed in July over the continental shelf. This large bloom resulted in chlorophyll concentrations of up to 400 mg m−2, primary productivity of up to 11 g C m−2 d−1, and near undetectable dissolved nitrogen concentrations at some of the shelf stations in 1998. In contrast, during 1997, the sub-tropical waters that were advected over the slope, resulted in low chlorophyll a and primary productivity (generally <1 g C m−2 d−1). Therefore, there was a sharp contrast between the very high primary productivity on the shelf in July 1998, due to normal nutrient replenishment from summer upwelling and outflow from the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the lower primary productivity during the 1997 ENSO year. During 1998, non-ENSO conditions resulted in phytoplankton biomass that was twice as high on the shelf as that measured in regions beyond the continental shelf of the west coast of Vancouver Island.  相似文献   

19.
Community metabolism (respiration and production) and bacterial activity were assessed in the upper water column of the central Arctic Ocean during the SHEBA/JOIS ice camp experiment, October 1997–September 1998. In the upper 50 m, decrease in integrated dissolved oxygen (DO) stocks over a period of 124 d in mid-winter suggested a respiration rate of ∼3.3 nM O2 h−1 and a carbon demand of ∼4.5 gC m−2. Increase in 0–50 m integrated stocks of DO during summer implied a net community production of ∼20 gC m−2. Community respiration rates were directly measured via rate of decrease in DO in whole seawater during 72-h dark incubation experiments. Incubation-based respiration rates were on average 3-fold lower during winter (11.0±10.6 nM O2 h−1) compared to summer (35.3±24.8 nM O2 h−1). Bacterial heterotrophic activity responded strongly, without noticeable lag, to phytoplankton growth. Rate of leucine incorporation by bacteria (a proxy for protein synthesis and cell growth) increased ∼10-fold, and the cell-specific rate of leucine incorporation ∼5-fold, from winter to summer. Rates of production of bacterial biomass in the upper 50 m were, however, low compared to other oceanic regions, averaging 0.52±0.47 ngC l−1 h−1 during winter and 5.1±3.1 ngC l−1 h−1 during summer. Total carbon demand based on respiration experiments averaged 2.4±2.3 mgC m−3 d−1 in winter and 7.8±5.5 mgC m−3 d−1 in summer. Estimated bacterial carbon demand based on bacterial productivity and an assumed 10% gross growth efficiency was much lower, averaging about 0.12±0.12 mgC m−3 d−1 in winter and 1.3±0.7 mgC m−3 d−1 in summer. Our estimates of bacterial activity during summer were an order of magnitude less than rates reported from a summer 1994 study in the central Arctic Ocean, implying significant inter-annual variability of microbial processes in this region.  相似文献   

20.
As part of a multidisciplinary cruise to the Porcupine Abyssal Plain (PAP) study site (49°00′N 16°30′W), in June and July 2006, observations were made of the vertical nitrate flux due to turbulent mixing. Daily profiles of nitrate and turbulent mixing, at the central PAP site, give a mean nitrate flux into the euphotic zone of 0.09 (95% confidence intervals: 0.05–0.16) mmol N m−2 d−1. This is a factor of 50 lower than the mean observed rate of nitrate uptake within the euphotic zone (5.1±1.3 mmol N m−2 d−1). By using our direct observations to ‘validate’ a previously published parameterisation for turbulent mixing, we further quantify the variability in the vertical turbulent flux across a roughly 100×100 km region centred on the PAP site, using hydrographic data. The flux is uniformly low (0.08±0.26 mmol N m−2 d−1, the large standard deviation being due to a strongly non-Gaussian distribution) and is consistent with direct measurements at the central site. It is demonstrated that on an annual basis convective mixing supplies at least 40-fold more nitrate to the euphotic zone than turbulent mixing at this location. Other processes, such as those related with mesoscale phenomena, may also contribute significantly.  相似文献   

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