Primary productivity,bacterial productivity and nitrogen uptake in response to iron enrichment during the SEEDS II

Primary productivity (PP), bacterial productivity (BP) and the uptake rates of nitrate and ammonium were measured using isotopic methods (¹³C, ³H, ¹⁵N) during a mesoscale iron (Fe)-enrichment experiment conducted in the western subarctic Pacific Ocean in 2004 (SEEDS II). PP increased following Fe enrichment, reached maximal rates 12 days after the enrichment, and then declined to the initial level on day 17. During the 23-day observation period, we observed the development and decline of the Fe-induced bloom. The surface mixed layer (SML) integrated PP increased by 3-fold, but was smaller than the 5-fold increase observed in the previous Fe-enrichment experiment conducted at almost the same location and season during 2001 (SEEDS). Nitrate uptake rates were enhanced by Fe enrichment but decreased after day 5, and became lower than ammonium uptake rates after day 17. The total nitrogenous nutrient uptake rate declined after the peak of the bloom, and accumulation of ammonium was obvious in the euphotic layer. Nitrate utilization accounted for all the requirements of N for the massive bloom development during SEEDS, whereas during SEEDS II, nitrate accounted for >90% of total N utilization on day 5, declining to 40% by the end of the observation period. The SML-integrated BP increased after day 2 and peaked twice on days 8 and 21. Ammonium accumulation and the delayed heterotrophic activity suggested active regeneration occurred after the peak of the bloom. The SML-integrated PP between days 0 and 23 was 19.0 g C m⁻². The SML-integrated BP during the same period was 2.6 g C m⁻², which was 14% of the SML-integrated PP. Carbon budget calculation for the whole experimental period indicated that 33% of the whole (particulate plus dissolved) PP (21.5 g C m⁻²) was exported below the SML and 18% was transferred to the meso-zooplankton (growth). The bacterial carbon consumption (43% of the whole PP) was supported by DOC or POC release from phytoplankton, zooplankton, protozoa and viruses. More than a half (56%) of the whole PP in the Fe patch was consumed within the SML by respiration of heterotrophic organisms and returned to CO₂.     

Behaviors of dissolved and particulate Co,Ni, Cu,Zn, Cd and Pb during a mesoscale Fe-enrichment experiment (SEEDS II) in the western North Pacific

During mesoscale Fe enrichment (SEEDS II) in the western North Pacific ocean, we investigated dissolved and particulate Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb in seawater from both field observation and shipboard bottle incubation of a natural phytoplankton assemblage with Fe addition. Before the Fe enrichment, strong correlations between dissolved trace metals (Ni, Zn and Cd) and PO₄³⁻, and between particulate trace metals (Ni, Zn and Cd) and chlorophyll-a were obtained, suggesting that biogeochemical cycles mainly control the distributions of Ni, Zn and Cd in the study area. Average concentrations of dissolved Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb in the surface mixed layer (0–20 m) were 70 pM, 4.9, 2.1, 1.6, 0.48 nM and 52 pM, respectively, and those for the particulate species were 1.7 pM, 0.052, 0.094, 0.46, 0.037 nM and 5.2 pM, respectively. After Fe enrichment, chlorophyll-a increased 3 fold (up to 3 μg L⁻¹) during developing phases of the bloom (<12 days). Mesozooplankton biomass also increased. Particulate Co, Ni, Cu and Cd inside the patch hinted at an increase in the concentrations, but there were no analytically significant differences between concentrations inside and outside the patch. The bottle incubation with Fe addition (1 nM) showed an increase in chlorophyll-a (8.9 μg L⁻¹) and raised the particulate fraction up to 3–45% for all the metals, accompanying changes in Si/P, Zn/P and Cd/P. These results suggest that Fe addition lead to changes in biogeochemical cycling of trace metals. The comparison between the mesoscale Fe enrichment and the bottle incubation experiment suggests that although Fe was a limiting factor for the growth of phytoplankton, the enhanced biomass of mesozooplankton also limited the growth of phytoplankton and the transformation of trace metal speciation during the mesoscale Fe enrichment. Sediment trap data and the elemental ratios taken up by phytoplankton suggest that export loss was another reason that no detectable change in the concentrations of particulate trace metals was observed during the mesoscale Fe enrichment.     

Seasonal variations in the distribution of Fe and Al in the surface waters of the Arabian Sea

Concentrations of dissolved Al and Fe in the surface mixed layer were measured during five cruises of the 1995 US JGOFS Arabian Sea Process Study, Concentrations of both Al and Fe were relatively uniform between January and April, the NE Monsoon and the Spring Intermonsoon period, ranging from 2 to 11 nM Al (mean 5.3 nM) and 0.5 to 2.4 nM Fe (mean 1.0 nM). In July/August, after the onset of the SW Monsoon, surface water Al and Fe concentrations increased significantly (Al range 4.5–20.1 nM; mean=10 nM, Fe range 0.57–2.4 nM; mean=1.3 nM), particularly in the NE part of the Arabian Sea, as the result of the input and partial dissolution of eolian dust. Using the enrichment of Al in the surface waters, we estimate this is the equivalent to the deposition of 2.2–7.4 g m⁻² dust, which is comparable to values previously estimated for this region. Approximately one month later (August/September), surface water concentrations of both Al and Fe were found to have decreased significantly (mean Al 7.4 nM, mean Fe 0.90 nM) particularly in the same NE region, as the result of export of particulate material from the euphotic zone. Fe supply to the surface waters is also affected by upwelling of sub-surface waters in the coastal region of the Arabian Sea during the SW Monsoon. Despite the proximity of high concentrations of Fe in the shallow sub-oxic layer, freshly upwelled water is not drawn from this layer and the NO₃/Fe ratio in the initially upwelled water is below the value at which Fe limitation is through to occur. Continued deposition of eolian Fe into the upwelled water as it advects offshore provides the Fe required to raise this ratio above the Fe limitation value.     

An investigation into the exchange of iron and zinc between soluble,colloidal, and particulate size-fractions in shelf waters using low-abundance isotopes as tracers in shipboard incubation experiments

A vertical mixing event was simulated in shipboard incubation experiments on the mid-continental shelf of the eastern Bering Sea to investigate Fe and Zn cycling between the soluble (< 0.03 μm or 200 kDa), colloidal (0.03–0.2 μm), and particulate (0.2–10 μm, > 10 μm) size-fractions. The particulate Fe and Zn were further separated into chemically labile (25% acetic acid-leachable) and refractory pools. The experiment employed ⁵⁷Fe (+ 0.90 nM) and ⁶⁸Zn (+ 0.99 nM) as stable, low-abundance isotope amendments to the soluble fraction, and the exchange of Fe and Zn between the different physico-chemical fractions was measured using high resolution-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (HR-ICP-MS). More than 50% of the added ⁵⁷Fe partitioned to the colloidal fraction within 45 min of adding the tracer. Both the ⁵⁷Fe and ⁵⁶Fe colloidal fraction were removed from the dissolved phase at a faster rate than the soluble Fe fraction. In contrast, the colloidal ⁶⁶Zn and ⁶⁸Zn concentrations remained constant over the 5-day experiment, suggesting a unique removal mechanism for colloidal Fe. The net removal of dissolved ⁵⁷Fe was observed to be 3 to 4 times more rapid than dissolved ⁵⁶Fe, which can be attributed to the regeneration of particulate Fe. Using a simple first-order model, it was determined that the net removal of 2.0 nM of dissolved Fe during the experiment was a consequence of dynamic cycling, whereby 2.9 nM of particulate Fe was regenerated and contributed to an overall removal of 4.9 nM of Fe from the dissolved phase. The amended ⁶⁸Zn tracer resided in the soluble fraction and was assimilated by the diatom biomass (> 10 μm size-fraction) at the same rate as ⁶⁶Zn. This similarity in rates suggests that nearly all of the net removal of Zn was due to assimilation and that regeneration did not play a significant role in Zn cycling within the incubation experiment. This research demonstrates the advantage of using low-abundance isotopes as tracers and the importance of particulate and colloidal Fe in the overall biogeochemical cycling of Fe in ocean surface waters.     

Vertical flux of particulate Al,Fe, Pb,and Ba from the upper ocean estimated from 234Th/238U disequilibria

The vertical sinking flux of particulate Al, Fe, Pb, and Ba from the upper 250 m of the Labrador Sea has been estimated from measurements of ²³⁴Th/²³⁸U disequilibrium and the respective metal/²³⁴Th ratios in >53 μm size particles. ²³⁴Th-derived particulate metal fluxes include in situ scavenged metals, labile lithogenic metals, and metals derived from external input (e.g., atmospheric supply). In contrast to the POC/²³⁴Th ratio, particle size-fractionated (0.4–10 μm, 10–53 μm, and >53 μm) Al/²³⁴Th, Fe/²³⁴Th and Pb/²³⁴Th, and Ba/²³⁴Th ratios generally increase with depth and exhibit no systematic change with particle diameter. Sinking fluxes of particulate Al (2.47–22.3 μmol m⁻² d⁻¹), Fe (2.69–16.3 μmol m⁻² d⁻¹), Pb (2.85–70 nmol m⁻² d⁻¹), and Ba (0.13–2.1 μmol m⁻² d⁻¹) at 50 m (base of the euphotic zone) and 100 m (base of the mixed layer) are largely within the range of previous sediment trap results from other ocean basins. Estimates of the upper ocean residence time of Al (0.07–0.28 yr) and Pb (0.8–2.9 yr) are short compared to previously reported values. The settling rate of >53 μm particles calculated from the ²³⁴Th data ranges from 14 to 38 m d⁻¹.     

Sources and fate of manganese in a tidal basin of the German Wadden Sea

Dissolved and particulate Mn concentrations were investigated on a seasonal scale in surface waters of the NW German Wadden Sea (Spiekeroog Island) in 2002 and 2003. As the Wadden Sea forms the transition zone between the terrestrial and marine realms, Mn was analysed in coastal freshwater tributaries and in the adjoining German Bight as well. Additionally, sediments and porewaters of the tidal flat sediments were analysed for Mn partitioning and microbial activity.Dissolved Mn concentrations show strong tidal and seasonal variation with elevated concentrations during summer at low tide. Summer values in the Wadden Sea (av. 0.7 μM) are distinctly higher than in the central areas of the German Bight (av. 0.02 μM), suggesting a possible impact of the Wadden Sea environment on the Mn budget of the North Sea. Seasonality is also observed for particulate Mn in the Wadden Sea (winter av. 800 mg kg^− 1; summer av. 1360 mg kg^− 1). Although particles are relatively Mn-poor during winter, the high SPM load during this season causes elevated excess concentrations of particulate Mn, which in part exceed those of the dissolved phase. Therefore, winter values cannot be ignored in balance calculations for the Wadden Sea system.Porewater Mn concentrations differ depending on sediment type and season. Maximum concentrations are found in surface sediments at a mixed flat site (190 μM) during summer, while winter values are distinctly lower. This indicates that enhanced microbial activity owing to higher temperature during summer leads to increased reduction of Mn-oxides in surface sediments and enhances the corresponding diffusive and advective Mn flux across the sediment-water interface. Draining of Mn-rich porewaters from sediments is also documented by analyses of tidal creek waters, which are highly enriched in Mn during summer.Furthermore, an important Mn source is freshwater discharged into the Wadden Sea via a flood-gate. The concentration of dissolved Mn in freshwater was highly variable during the sampling campaigns in 2002 and 2003, averaging 4 μM. In contrast, particulate Mn displayed a seasonal behaviour with increasing contents during summer. On the basis of salinity variations in the Wadden Sea, the total amount of Mn contributed to the Wadden Sea via freshwater was estimated. This balance shows the importance of the freshwater environment for the Mn inventory of the Wadden Sea. During winter the total Mn inventory of the Wadden Sea water column may be explained almost completely by freshwater discharge, whereas in summer the porewater system forms the dominating source.     

CHEMINI: A new in situ CHEmical MINIaturized analyzer

“CHEMINI” is a new instrument developed for the measurement of seawater chemical parameters. It is a mono-parameter in situ chemical analyzer based on flow injection analysis and colorimetric detection. The deep-sea version of CHEMINI combines two modules to perform the analysis of dissolved iron [Fe (II) or Fe (II+III)] and total sulphide (H₂S+HS^?+S^2?) up to 6000 m depth. Detection limits are, respectively, 0.3 and 0.1 μM for iron and sulphide. The system proved highly reliable during the MoMARETO cruise on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The two CHEMINIs were used to describe the chemical environment in 12 mussel beds on the Tour Eiffel hydrothermal edifice.     

Seasonality of particle-associated trace element fluxes in the deep northeast Atlantic Ocean

In the framework of the German contribution to the Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS), deep-water fluxes of particle-associated trace elements were measured in the northeast Atlantic Ocean. The sinking particles were collected almost continuously from 1992 to 1996 at three time-series stations, L1 (33°N/22°W), L2 (47°N/20°W), and L3 (54°N/21°W), using sediment traps. The focus of the present study is the temporal variability of the particle-associated elemental fluxes of Al, Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, P, Pb, Ti, V, and Zn at a depth of 2000 m.A clear seasonality of the fluxes that persisted for several years was documented for the southernmost station (L1) at stable oligotrophic conditions in the area of the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre East (NASTE). At L2 and L3, an episodic nature of the elemental fluxes was determined. Mesoscale eddies are known to frequently cause temporal and spatial variability in the flux of biogenic components in that area. These events modified the simple seasonal pattern controlled by the annual cycle at L2, in the North Atlantic Drift Region (NADR), and at L3, which was influenced by the Atlantic Arctic province (ARCT). All stations were characterized by an additional episodic lithogenic atmospheric supply reaching the deep sea.The integrated annual fluxes during the multi-year study revealed similar flux magnitudes for lithogenic elements (Al, Co, Fe, Ti, and V) at L2 and L3 and roughly twofold fluxes at L1. Biogenic elements (Cd, P, and Zn) showed the opposite trend, i.e., two to fourfold higher values at L2 and L3 than at L1. For Mn, Ni, and Cu, the spatial differences were smaller, perhaps because of the intermediate behavior, between lithogenic and biogenic, of these elements. Similarly, among the three study sites, there were no noticeable differences in the total annual flux of Pb.The respective lithogenic fractions of the deep-sea fluxes of Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, V, and Zn were subtracted based on the amount of Al, with the average composition of the continental crust as reference. This procedure allowed estimation of the labile trace element fraction (TE_exc) of the particles, i.e., TE taken up or scavenged during particle production and sedimentation. The ratios of TE_exc/P clearly demonstrated an enrichment of TE over labile P from biogenic surface material to the deep sea for Zn (factor 4–6), Mn (12–27), Ni (3–5), and Cu (9–25); an intermediate status for Co (0.5–2.2); and depletion for Cd vs. P (0.2–0.4). Surprisingly, the recycling behavior of excess Co was found to be similar to that of P. Hence, Co_exc behaved like a biogenic element; this is in contrast to total Co, which is dominated by the refractory lithogenic fraction.Moreover, it is argued that these excess elemental fluxes caused a loss of the dissolved elements in upper waters, since their transport reaches the deep-sea waters at 2000 m, a depth far below of deep-winter mixing and upwelling. The annual amount of excess TE exported from surface waters was estimated to be 1.3×10⁹ mol Zn y^?1, 4.4×10⁹ mol Mn y^?1, 4.9×10⁸ mol Ni y^?1, 2.2×10⁷ mol Cd y^?1, 7.4×10⁸ mol Cu y^?1, and 2.7×10⁷ mol Co y^?1 for the whole North Atlantic Ocean. Important primary sources that could replenish these losses are the aeolian and fluvial supply processes.     

A segment-scale survey of the Broken Spur hydrothermal plume

We conducted a segment-scale hydrothermal plume survey of the Broken Spur segment, 29°00-20′N, Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR). The purpose of the study was to identify the distribution of sources of venting throughout the segment as part of a larger study of hydrothermal fluxes. Evidence from plume particle concentrations (as deduced from in situ nephelometer data) and total dissolvable Mn (TDMn) analyses (from discrete water samples) indicated a restricted source of venting close to the segment centre, coincident with the previously known vent-site. No other pronounced plume signals were observed outside an area bounded by 29°07.5–12.5′N and 43°10–12′W, representing less than 10% of the >300 km² of deep water (>2600 m) within the segment. In addition, however, low-level (<2 nmol l^-1) deepwater TDMn concentrations reveal a pervasive enrichment throughout the segment of ⩾0.15 nmol l^-1. For the 4×1011 m³ of deepwater within the Broken Spur segment, this corresponds to a standing crop of 6×10⁴ mol of hydrothermal Mn. Future studies of long-term current flow will allow the flux of dissolved Mn out of the segment to be established and will investigate the partitioning of its source, between high temperature and axial diffuse flow.     

Heat,volume and chemical fluxes from submarine venting: A synthesis of results from the Rainbow hydrothermal field, 36°N MAR

High-temperature hydrothermal activity occurs in all ocean basins and along ridge crests of all spreading rates. While it has long been recognized that the fluxes associated with such venting are large, precise quantification of their impact on ocean biogeochemistry has proved elusive. Here, we report a comprehensive study of heat, fluid and chemical fluxes from a single submarine hydrothermal field. To achieve this, we have exploited the integrating nature of the non-buoyant plume dispersing above the Rainbow hydrothermal field, a long-lived and tectonically hosted high-temperature vent site on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Our calculations yield heat and volume fluxes for high-temperature fluids exiting the seafloor of ～0.5 GW and 450 L s^?1, together with accompanying chemical fluxes, for Fe, Mn and CH₄ of ～10, ～1 and ～1 mol s^?1, respectively. Accompanying fluxes for 25 additional chemical species that are associated with Fe-rich plume particles have also been calculated as they are transported away from the Rainbow vent site before settling to the seabed. High-temperature venting has been found to recur at least once every ～100 km along all slow-spreading ridges investigated to-date, with half of all known sites on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge occurring as long-lived and tectonically hosted systems. If these patterns persist along all slow- and ultraslow-spreading ridges, high-temperature venting of the kind reported here could account for ～50% of the on-axis hydrothermal heat flux along ～30,000 km of the ～55,000 km global ridge crest.     

Late Quaternary siliciclastic/carbonate sedimentation model for the Capricorn Channel,southern Great Barrier Reef province,Australia

A model is presented for hemipelagic siliciclastic and carbonate sedimentation during the last glacial–interglacial cycle in the Capricorn Channel, southern Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Stable isotope ratios, grainsize, carbonate content and mineralogy were analysed for seven cores in a depth transect from 166 to 2892 m below sea level (mbsl). Results show variations in the flux of terrigenous, neritic and pelagic sediments to the continental slope over the last sea level cycle.During the glacial lowstand terrigenous sediment influenced all the cores down to 2000 mbsl. The percentages of quartz and feldspar in the cores decreased with water depth, while the percentage of clay increased. X-ray diffraction analysis of the glacial lowstand clay mineralogy suggests that the siliciclastic sediment was primarily sourced from the Fitzroy River, which debouched directly into the northwest sector of the Capricorn Channel at this time. The cores also show a decrease in pelagic calcite and an increase in aragonite and high magnesium calcite (HMC) during the glacial. The influx of HMC and aragonite is most likely from reworking of coral reefs exposed on the continental shelf during the glacial, and also from HMC ooids precipitated at the head of the Capricorn Channel at this time. Mass accumulation rates (MARs) are high (13.5 g cm^? 3 kyr^? 1) during the glacial and peak at ~ 20 g cm^? 3 kyr^? 1 in the early transgression (16–14 ka BP). MARs then decline with further sea level rise as the Fitzroy River mouth retreats from the edge of the continental shelf after 13.5 ka BP. MARs remain low (4 cm^? 3 kyr^? 1) throughout the Holocene highstand.Data for the Holocene highstand indicate there is a reduction in siliciclastic influx to the Capricorn Channel with little quartz and feldspar below 350 mbsl. However, fine-grained fluvial sediments, presumably from the Fitzroy River, were still accumulating on the mid slope down to 2000 mbsl. The proportion of pelagic calcite in the core tops increases with water depth, while HMC decreases, and is present only in trace amounts in cores below 1500 mbsl. The difference in the percentage of HMC in the deeper cores between the glacial and Holocene may reflect differences in supply or deepening of the HMC lysocline during the glacial.Sediment accumulation rates also vary between cores in the Capricorn Channel and do not show the expected exponential decrease with depth. This may be due to intermediate or deep water currents reworking the sediments. It is also possible that present bathymetry data are too sparse to detect the potential role that submarine channels may play in the distribution and accumulation of sediments.Comparison of the Capricorn Channel MARs with those for other mixed carbonate/siliciclastic provinces from the northeast margin of Australia indicates that peak MARs in the early transgression in the Capricorn Channel precede those from the central GBR and south of Fraser Island. The difference in the timing of the carbonate and siliciclastic MAR peaks along the northeast margin is primarily related to differences in the physiography and climate of the provinces. The only common trend in the MARs from the northeast margin of Australia is the near synchronicity of the carbonate and siliciclastic MAR peaks in individual sediment cores, which supports a coeval sedimentation model.     

Distribution of rare earth elements and neodymium isotopes in suspended particles of the tropical Atlantic Ocean (EUMELI site)

We analyzed the REE, Mn and Al concentrations and Nd isotopic ratios in marine suspensions collected on filters (0.65 μm porosity) with in situ pumping systems in the tropical northeastern Atlantic (20°N, 18–31°W). Previously we reported the same parameters on large sinking particles collected with moored sediment traps at the sites. Shale-normalized REE patterns of the filtered suspensions are characterized by a larger light REE (LREE) to heavy REE (HREE) enrichment compared to the trapped material and a Ce anomaly that evolves positively with depth. Depth profiles of REE/Al show maximum values at 50–100 m, where the Mn/Al ratio also reaches a maximum. The profile of the Nd isotopic ratios of the filtered suspensions shows variations similar to those of the seawater. These results suggest that the filtered suspensions preferentially scavenge the LREE, especially Ce, and that the particulate Mn oxides are potential REE carriers. The relationship between the Ce anomaly and the Ce/Al ratio demonstrates that the particulate Ce anomaly is formed by (1) the LREE adsorption onto the particulate Mn oxides in the surface water, (2) Ce(III) oxidation to insoluble Ce(IV)O₂ and (3) preferential desorption of strict trivalent REE from the Mn oxides in deep water. Estimated authigenic Nd contents, using Nd isotopic ratios, decrease with depth. This is consistent with the adsorption of the REE in surface water and their desorption in deep water, suggested by the Ce anomaly formation. All the results show that the suspended particles record more clearly the authigenic REE contribution than the trapped material does. The suspended matter plays a key role in the scavenging of particle-reactive elements.     

The exceptionally stable cobalt(III)–desferrioxamine B complex

The biogeochemistry of trivalent iron, manganese, and cobalt in the oceans is dominated by soluble complexes formed with high-affinity organic ligands that are believed to be microbial siderophores or similar biogenic chelating agents. Desferrioxamine B (DFOB), a trihydroxamate siderophore found in both terrestrial and marine environments, has served as a useful model for a large class of microbial siderophores in studies of 1:1 complexes formed with trivalent iron and manganese. However, no data exist concerning DFOB complexes with Co(III), which we hypothesize should be as strong as those with Fe(III) and Mn(III) if the current picture of the ocean biogeochemistry of the three trivalent metals is accurate. We investigated the complexation reaction between DFOB and Co(III) in aqueous solution at seawater pH using base and redox titrations, and then characterized the resulting 1:1 complex Co(III)HDFOB⁺ using X-ray absorption, resonance Raman spectroscopy, and quantum mechanical structural optimizations. We found that the complex stability constant for Co(III)HDFOB⁺ (log K _{[Co(III)HDFOB⁺]} = 37.5 ± 0.4) is in fact five and seven orders of magnitude larger than that for Fe(III)HDFOB⁺ (log K_{[Fe(III)HDFOB⁺]} = 32.02) and Mn(III)HDFOB⁺ (log K_{[Mn(III)HDFOB}⁺_] = 29.9), respectively. Spectroscopic data and the supporting theoretical structural optimizations elucidated the molecular basis for this exceptional stability. Although not definitive, our results nevertheless are consistent with the evolution of siderophores as a response by bacteria to oxygenation, not only because of sharply decreasing concentrations of Fe(III), but also of Co(III).     

Fine-grained sediment budget on the continental margin of the Bay of Biscay

Under present-day conditions, rivers are the main source of fine sediments dispersed to the Bay of Biscay. They deliver about 2.5×10⁶ t yr⁻¹ of continental fine sediments, 60% of which is derived from the Gironde estuary. Of this flux, 65% is believed stored on the shelf. Two kinds of mud fields can be found in the Bay of Biscay: coastal mud and shelf mud belts. The total mass of fine sediments stored during the past 2000 years is 3.2×10⁹ t. Consequently, about 0.9×10⁶ t yr⁻¹ could reach the shelf edge and eventually the open sea. From this amount of displaced material and the deposition surface areas, an evaluation of sediment fluxes across the margin during the late Holocene period is discussed. This evaluation is compared with results obtained from ECOsystéme du canyon du cap-FERret (ECOFER) data from sediment traps and surficial box cores.     

Plankton copper requirements and uptake in the subarctic Northeast Pacific Ocean

We undertook the first measurements of metabolic Cu requirements (net Cu:C assimilation ratios) and steady-state Cu uptake rates (ρCu_ss) of natural plankton assemblages in the northeast subarctic Pacific using the short-lived radioisotope ⁶⁷Cu. Size-fractionated net Cu:C assimilation ratios varied ～3 fold (1.35–4.21 μmol Cu mol C^?1) among the stations along Line P, from high Fe coastal waters to the Fe-limited open ocean. The variability in Cu:C was comparable to biogenic Fe:C ratios in this region. As previously observed for Fe uptake, the bacterial size class accounted for half of the total particulate ρCu_ss. Interestingly, carbon biomass-normalized rates of Fe uptake from the siderophore desferrioxamine B (DFB) (ρFe_DFB; a physiological proxy for Fe-limitation) by the >20 μm size class were positively correlated with the intracellular net Cu:C assimilation ratios in this size class, suggesting that intracellular Cu requirements for large phytoplankton respond to increased Fe-limitation. At Fe-limited Ocean Station Papa (OSP), we performed short-term Cu uptake (ρCu_L) assays to determine the relative bioavailability of Cu bound to natural and synthetic ligands. Like the volumetric ρCu_ss measured along Line P, the bacterial size class was responsible for at least 50% of the total ρCu_L. Uptake rates of Cu from the various organic complexes suggest that Cu uptake was controlled by the oxidation state of the metal and by the metal:ligand concentration ratio, rather than the concentration of inorganic species of Cu in solution. Collectively, these data suggest that Cu likely plays an important role in the physiology of natural plankton communities beyond the toxicological effects studied previously.     

Primary productivity,differential size fraction and pigment composition responses in two Southern Ocean in situ iron enrichments

Two in situ iron-enrichment experiments were conducted in the Pacific sector of the Southern Ocean during summer 2002 (SOFeX). The “north patch,” established within the Subantarctic Zone (∼56°S), was characterized by high nitrate (∼21 mmol m⁻³) but low silicic acid (2 mmol m⁻³) concentrations. North patch iron enrichment increased chlorophyll (Chl) by 12-fold to 2.1 mg m⁻³ and primary productivity (PP_EU) by 8-fold to 188 mmol C m⁻² d⁻¹. Surprisingly, despite low silicic acid concentrations, diagnostic pigment and size-fraction composition changes indicated an assemblage shift from prymnesiophytes toward diatoms. The “south patch,” poleward of the Southern Boundary of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (SBACC) (∼66°S), had high concentrations of nitrate (∼27 mmol m⁻³) and silicic acid (64 mmol m⁻³). South patch iron enrichment increased Chl by 9-fold to 3.8 mg m⁻³ and PP_EU 5-fold to 161 mmol C m⁻² d⁻¹ but, notably, did not alter the phytoplankton assemblage from the initial composition of ∼50% diatoms. South patch iron addition also reduced total particulate organic carbon:Chl from ∼300 to 100; enhanced the presence of novel non-photosynthetic, but fluorescent, compounds; and counteracted a decrease in photosynthetic performance as photoperiod decreased. These experiments show unambiguously that in the contemporary, high nitrate Southern Ocean increasing iron supply increases primary productivity, confirming the initial premise of the Martin Iron Hypothesis. However, despite a 5-fold increase in PP_EU under iron-replete conditions in late summer, the effect of iron on annual productivity in the Southern Ocean poleward of the SBACC is limited by seasonal ice coverage and the dark of polar winter.     

Carbon and biogenic silica export influenced by the Amazon River Plume: Patterns of remineralization in deep-sea sediments

The Amazon River Plume delivers freshwater and nutrients to an otherwise oligotrophic western tropical North Atlantic (WTNA) Ocean. Plume waters create conditions favorable for carbon and nitrogen fixation, and blooms of diatoms and their diazotrophic cyanobacterial symbionts have been credited with significant CO₂ uptake from the atmosphere. The fate of the carbon, however, has been measured previously by just a few moored or drifting sediment traps, allowing only speculation about the full extent of the plume's impact on carbon flux to the deep sea. Here, we used surface (0.5 m) sediment cores collected throughout the Demerara Slope and Abyssal Plain, at depths ranging from 1800 to 5000 m, to document benthic diagenetic processes indicative of carbon flux. Pore waters were extracted from sediments using both mm- and cm-scale extraction techniques. Profiles of nitrate (NO₃) and silicate (Si(OH)₄) were modeled with a diffusion-reaction equation to determine particulate organic carbon (POC) degradation and biogenic silica (bSi) remineralization rates. Model output was used to determine the spatial patterns of POC and bSi arrival at the sea floor. Our estimates of POC and Si remineralization fluxes ranged from 0.16 to 1.92 and 0.14 to 1.35 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹, respectively. A distinct axis of POC and bSi deposition on the deep sea floor aligned with the NW axis of the plume during peak springtime flood. POC flux showed a gradient along this axis with highest fluxes closest to the river mouth. bSi had a more diffuse zone of deposition and remineralization. The impact of the Amazon plume on benthic fluxes can be detected northward to 10°N and eastward to 47°W, indicating a footprint of nearly 1 million km². We estimate that 0.15 Tmol C y⁻¹ is remineralized in abyssal sediments underlying waters influenced by the Amazon River. This constitutes a relatively high fraction (~7%) of the estimated C export from the region.; the plume thus has a demonstrable impact on C_org export in the western Atlantic. Benthic fluxes under the plume were comparable to and in some cases greater than those observed in the eastern equatorial Atlantic, the southeastern Atlantic, and the Southern Ocean.     

Lithogenic and biogenic particle fluxes on the Lomonosov Ridge (central Arctic Ocean) and their relevance for sediment accumulation: Vertical vs. lateral transport

Investigations of lithogenic and biogenic particle fluxes using long-term sediment traps are still very rare in the northern high latitudes and are restricted to the arctic marginal seas and sub-arctic regions. Here data on the variability of fluxes of lithogenic matter, CaCO₃, opal, and organic carbon and biomarker composition from the central Arctic Ocean are presented for a 1-year period. The study was carried out on material obtained from a long-term mooring system equipped with two multi-sampling traps, at 150 and 1550 m depth, and deployed on the southern Lomonosov Ridge close to the Laptev Sea continental margin from September 1995 to August 1996. In addition, data from surface sediments were included in the study. Annual fluxes of lithogenic matter, CaCO₃, opal, and particulate organic carbon were 3.9, 0.8, 2.6, and 1.5 g m⁻² y⁻¹, respectively, in the shallow trap and 11.3, 0.5, 2.9, and 1.05 g m⁻² y⁻¹, respectively, in the deep trap.Both the shallow and the deep trap showed significant variations in vertical flux over the year. Higher values were found from mid-July to the end of October (total mass flux of 75–130 mg m⁻² d⁻¹ in the shallow trap and 40–225 mg m⁻² d⁻¹ in the deep trap). During all other months, fluxes were fairly low in both traps (most total mass flux values <10 mg m⁻² d⁻¹). The interval of increased fluxes can be separated into (1) a mid-July/August maximum caused by increased primary production as documented in high abundances of marine biomarkers and diatoms and (2) a September/October maximum caused by increased influence of Lena River discharge indicated by maximum lithogenic flux and large amounts of terrigenous/fluvial biomarkers in both traps. During September/October, total mass fluxes in the deep trap were significantly higher than in the shallow trap, suggesting a lateral sediment flux at greater depth. The lithogenic flux data also support the importance of sediment input from the Laptev Sea for the sediment accumulation on the Lomonosov Ridge on geological time scales, as indicated in sedimentary records from this region.     

Distribution and quality of sedimentary organic matter on the Aquitanian margin (Bay of Biscay)

During the ECOFER experiment (French ECOMARGE program), surficial sediments were sampled on the Aquitanian margin with box corers and analyzed to determine the quantity and quality of organic matter. Sediments from the margin are enriched in organic carbon (mean value 1.35%) in comparison to deep-sea and shelf sediments, due to a fine grain-size sedimentation. As sedimentation rates are high, the margin appears to be an organic depocenter. Some preferential organic enrichment zones were identified in the Cap-Ferret Canyon. There is a supply of continental material from the Gironde estuary, but marine contribution seems more possible than Adour or spanish rivers. No seasonal variations of organic matter were observed at the surface of sediments, suggesting mineralization processes of labile organic matter: average organic carbon consumption was evaluated to 9.0 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹. Rapid biological mineralization processes are lower than on the Mediterranean margin, mainly related to significant differences in water temperature. The great width of the canyon, its distance from the continent, and the current circulation pattern prevent any precise recording of the variable organic inputs to the sediment and favor nepheloı̈d transport, resuspension and shelf break processes, which wipe out any print of fresh material input. An organic carbon budget indicates that an equilibrium between organic inputs and organic mineralization+accumulation is not obtainable. The supply of suspended matter could have been minor during the year in question, and sedimentation rates are still imprecise.     

Deep slope currents and suspended particle fluxes in and around the Foix submarine canyon (NW Mediterranean)

Deep slope currents and particulate matter concentrations were studied on the Barcelona continental margin in and around the Foix submarine canyon from May 1993 to April 1994. This year-long moored experiment revealed that near-bottom slope currents are strongly influenced by the bottom topography, being oriented along isobaths and along the canyon axis. The deep slope current fluctuations are controlled by the local inertial motion (18.3 h) and also by low-frequency oscillations at periods of 6–10 days, related to the passage of atmospheric pressure cells. Particulate matter concentrations recorded during the experiment do not show a clear seasonal variability, except outside the canyon, where significant peaks of particulate matter concentrations were recorded only during the winter-fall deployment. In addition, the temporal evolution of suspended particulate matter concentration is not linked to changes in the cross-slope or along-slope current components and did not show a clear relationship with river avenues or wave storm events. This suggests that suspended particulate matter exported from the shelf is dispersed on the slope by advective processes, which attenuate the signal of the shelf-slope sediment transfer. Mean particulate matter concentrations differed among sampling sites, but the magnitude of the mean horizontal suspended particle flux reflects a quite similar value in the whole study area, ranging from 2.53 to 4.05 mg m⁻² s⁻¹. These horizontal suspended particle fluxes are 27 (canyon head) to 360 (open slope) times higher than the settling particle fluxes measured at the same sampling sites, indicating that the suspended particulate transport on the Barcelona continental slope dominates over the settling particle fluxes, even inside the Foix submarine canyon.