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Marine Biogeochemistry

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Abstract

The biogeochemistry of the world oceans has been studied for many decades, and major advances in understanding have been linked with development of new techniques and tools that allow the accurate representation of various organic and inorganic pools within the water. The classic study of Redfield 1 showed that some critical bioactive compounds (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, oxygen) occur in particular ratios to one another that are relatively invariant over space and time and provided a description of the relationship between the ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus (N:P) for inorganic and plankton pools. The processes that control these compounds were assessed, and it was concluded that phosphorus concentrations are largely controlled by terrestrial inputs, whereas nitrogen is under biological control.

This chapter was originally published as part of the Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology edited by Robert A. Meyers. DOI:10.1007/978-1-4419-0851-3

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Abbreviations

Autotrophic:

Organisms whose mode of nutrition is photosynthesis.

Biogeochemistry :

The biological and chemical processes that transform and cycle elements over various time and space scales and that determine the composition of the environment.

Biological pump:

The biological processes and transformations that move carbon from the surface to depth.

Cyanobacteria:

Prokaryotic phytoplankton.

Diatom:

Phytoplankton which are encased in frustule consisting of silica.

Euphotic zone:

The surface layer of the ocean where most primary production occurs, generally considered to be the depth to which 1% of surface radiation penetrates.

Heterotrophic:

Organisms who require reduced organic carbon as an energy and carbon source.

Nutrient:

Element that is required for biological activity and growth.

Oxidation:

Chemical reaction in which reactant loses electrons; half-reaction paired with reduction.

Photosynthesis:

The process by which radiant energy from the sun is transformed into chemical energy that can later be used to reduce carbon dioxide to organic sugars, which in turn are coupled to biochemical pathways to produce all compounds necessary for cell growth.

Phytoplankton:

Microscopic, often unicellular, floating autotrophs that live in the ocean’s surface layer and form the base of nearly all marine food webs.

Reduction:

Chemical reaction in which reactant gains electrons; half-reaction paired with oxidation.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William & Mary, Gloucester Pt, VA, 23062, USA

    Walker O. Smith Jr. & Anna Mosby

  2. Center for Coastal Physical Oceanography, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, 23508, USA

    Eileen E. Hofmann

Authors
  1. Walker O. Smith Jr.
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  2. Eileen E. Hofmann
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  3. Anna Mosby
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Walker O. Smith Jr. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Environmental Systems Analysis Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, 6700 AA, Netherlands

    Rik Leemans

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Smith, W.O., Hofmann, E.E., Mosby, A. (2013). Marine Biogeochemistry. In: Leemans, R. (eds) Ecological Systems. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5755-8_12

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