Role of diatoms in the biological carbon pump
Abstract
Diatoms are major players in the biological carbon pump. However, are their role correctly represented in biogeochemical models? 1-The classic view of the biological carbon pump considers that diatoms as efficient transporters of labile organic carbon to the mesopelagic layer but not to the CO2 sequestration layer. However, this view is challenged by qualitative and quantitative data related to the functioning of the biological carbon pump, both for the modern and the paleo-ocean. They show that massive and rapid pulsed export of organic carbon to the CO2 sequestration layer occurs when unfavorable conditions for diatoms to grow up prevail either in the surface or in the subsurface deep chlorophyll maximum. 2-In most plankton functional type (PFT) models diatoms are usually represent as a single FTP. However, recent studies related to naturally iron-fertilized systems show that (1) the responses of the cellular content of diatoms to iron availability are very variable from one species of diatoms to another, and that (2) the diatom community composition directly impacts the particulate organic carbon export efficiency. Implications of these two issues for marine biogeochemistry and ecosystem modeling will be discussed.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2016
- Bibcode:
- 2016AGUFMOS43B2034T
- Keywords:
-
- 4805 Biogeochemical cycles;
- processes;
- and modeling;
- OCEANOGRAPHY: BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICALDE: 4806 Carbon cycling;
- OCEANOGRAPHY: BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICALDE: 4815 Ecosystems;
- structure;
- dynamics;
- and modeling;
- OCEANOGRAPHY: BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICALDE: 4845 Nutrients and nutrient cycling;
- OCEANOGRAPHY: BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL