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Respiration and its size-dependence in microplankton populations from surface waters of the Canadian Arctic

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Summary

The spatial distribution and size-dependence of oxygen consumption (respiration) and production by microplankton in near surface waters of the Canadian Arctic were measured during summer, 1983. High oxygen flux rates (consumption and production) were observed near surface (upper 20–30 m) and were generally associated with high phytoplankton biomass (chlorophyll a) levels. A substantial portion of the respiration (>50%), however, was below the euphotic zone. Integrated oxygen fluxes (0–100 m) were approximately in balance (i.e., net oxygen production ≈ 0) at most locations sampled. In general, oxygen fluxes were higher than have been observed in the Southern Ocean but in the same range as found in temperate coastal waters. Size-fractionation studies showed that most (>60%) of the oxygen production and phytoplankton biomass (chlorophyll a) were associated with organisms greater than 35 μm. On the other hand, more than 70% of the respiration was associated with organisms less than 35 μm; on average, more than 50% of the respiration was associated with organisms less than 1 μm. These results are consistent with theoretical studies and with experimental observations from temperate waters.

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  1. Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Marine Ecology Laboratory, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, B2Y 4A2, Dartmouth, N.S., Canada

    W. G. Harrison

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  1. W. G. Harrison
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Harrison, W.G. Respiration and its size-dependence in microplankton populations from surface waters of the Canadian Arctic. Polar Biol 6, 145–152 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00274877

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00274877

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