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Vertical flux and biogeochemical turnover regulate nutrient limitation of net organic production in the North Pacific Gyre
Author(s) -
Smith S. V.,
Kimmerer W. J.,
Walsh T. W.
Publication year - 1986
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.1986.31.1.0161
Subject(s) - ocean gyre , biogeochemical cycle , photic zone , flux (metallurgy) , nutrient , dissolved organic carbon , new production , organic matter , nitrogen , remineralisation , diffusion , environmental science , particulates , mixing (physics) , oceanography , chemistry , atmospheric sciences , environmental chemistry , geology , phytoplankton , ecology , biology , subtropics , inorganic chemistry , physics , fluoride , organic chemistry , thermodynamics , quantum mechanics
Water samples collected at a station in the North Pacific Gyre near Hawaii precisely define the temporal average vertical profile of dissolved inorganic and organic N and P (DON and DOP). DON and DOP concentrations decrease with depth. As shown by other studies, the regression of NO 3 − (with or without NH 4 − ) vs. PO 4 3− yields an approximately Redfield slope and a negative nitrogen intercept. If DON and DOP are included in the regression equation, the intercept approaches 0. Vertical flux ratios of dissolved materials are calculated with a one‐dimensional diffusion model. Downward mixing of DON offsets about 6% of the upward NO 3 − flux; downward DOP mixing offsets only about 4% of the upward PO 4 3− flux. Net production of particulate organic matter in the euphotic zone is N limited because of slow biochemical turnover of dissolved organic N relative to that of dissolved organic P and to downward mixing.