Carbon Export in the Ocean: A Biologist's Perspective.
Ann Rev Mar Sci
; 15: 357-381, 2023 01 16.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36055975
ABSTRACT
Understanding the nature of organic matter flux in the ocean remains a major goal of oceanography because it impacts some of the most important processes in the ocean. Sinking particles are important for carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere and its movement to the deep ocean. They also feed life below the ocean's productive surface and sustain life in the deep sea, in addition to depositing organic matter on the seafloor. However, the magnitude of all of these processes is dependent on the transformation of sinking particles during their journey through the water column. This review focuses on the movement of organic matter from the surface ocean to the deep sea via the biological carbon pump and examines the processes that prevent this downward movement-namely, attenuation via microbial colonization and zooplankton feeding. It also discusses how the depth-specific interactions among microbes, zooplankton, and aggregates determine carbon export as well as nutrient recycling, which in turn impact ocean production and Earth's climate.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Atmosphere
/
Zooplankton
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Ann Rev Mar Sci
Journal subject:
BIOLOGIA
Year:
2023
Document type:
Article