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Estimating Biogenic Silica Production of Rhizaria in the Global Ocean
Author(s) -
Llopis Monferrer Natalia,
Boltovskoy Demetrio,
Tréguer Paul,
Sandin Miguel Méndez,
Not Fabrice,
Leynaert Aude
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
global biogeochemical cycles
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.512
H-Index - 187
eISSN - 1944-9224
pISSN - 0886-6236
DOI - 10.1029/2019gb006286
Subject(s) - biogenic silica , silicic acid , biogeochemical cycle , plankton , environmental chemistry , oceanography , water column , biogeochemistry , environmental science , carbon cycle , total organic carbon , mediterranean sea , diatom , chemistry , mediterranean climate , geology , ecology , ecosystem , biology
Siliceous polycystines and phaeodarians are open‐ocean planktonic protists found throughout the water column and characterized by complex siliceous skeletons that are formed, at least partly, through the uptake of silicic acid. These protists contribute to the marine organic carbon (C) and biogenic silica (bSi) pools, but little is known about their contribution to the silica (Si) biogeochemical cycle. Here we report the first measurements of the Si uptake rate of polycystine and phaeodarian cells from samples collected in the Mediterranean Sea using the 32 Si‐based method. The elementary composition (bSi, particulate organic carbon and nitrogen) of these organisms was also measured. Combining our results with published data on the distribution and abundance of Polycystina and Phaeodaria in the global ocean, we conclude that these organisms could contribute from 0.2 to 2.2 mmol Si m −2 of the marine standing stock of bSi and from 2 to 58 Tmol Si yr −1 (1% to 19%) of the global oceanic biogenic silica production. The implications for the global marine Si cycle are discussed.