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THE PRODUCTION OF PARTICLES IN THE SURFACE WATERS OF THE OCEAN WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE SARGASSO SEA 1
Author(s) -
Sheldon R. W.,
Sutcliffe W. H.,
Prakash A.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.1973.18.5.0719
Subject(s) - pelagic zone , sargasso sea , particle (ecology) , oceanography , environmental science , production (economics) , production rate , food chain , radiocarbon dating , ecology , biology , geology , paleontology , industrial engineering , engineering , economics , macroeconomics
In the surface waters of the ocean particle production and consumption are in balance. The structure of the pelagic food chain and the morphological limitations dictated by the environment are such that, in general, large particles have to consume smaller ones. If the large particles are removed the small particles cannot be consumed and their production rate can be measured. A state of exponential growth seems to be normal. The rate of production, as revealed by small particle growth following predation release, is much greater than the apparent rate of primary production indicated by radiocarbon uptake.