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Does Phaeocystis spp. contribute significantly to vertical export of organic carbon?

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Abstract

Phaeocystis spp. cell and colony mass fluxes and their contribution to the vertical particulate organic carbon (POC) export from a wide range of stations were quantified by short-term sediment traps. The compilation of available data, ranging from polar to sub-arctic and boreal regions, revealed that Phaeocystis colonial and single cells frequently are observed in shallow sediment traps at 30–50 m depth (average of 7 ± 11% of POC export). A strong vertical export decline between 40 m and 100 m diminished the contribution of Phaeocystis spp. cell carbon to vertical export of POC to only 3 ± 2% at 100 m depth, with two exceptions (deeper mixed stations). Estimates of potential corresponding mucus contribution increased the average Phaeocystis spp. contribution to <5% of POC export. The vertical flux attenuation efficiency is higher for Phaeocystis spp. than for diatoms. The overall contribution of Phaeocystis spp. to vertical carbon export based on direct investigations of vertical organic carbon export is small.

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Acknowledgement

The tedious microscopic effort by Tatjana Ratkova made this contribution possible, and is highly acknowledged. Contributions from colleagues through discussions and fieldwork over many years during the ESCAPE (EU-MAS3-CT96-0050) and BIOHAB (EU-EVK3-CT99-00015) projects, the fjord projects within North Norwegian Coastal ecology (NFR), ALV (NFR 121521/720), CABANERA (NFR 155936/700), MACESIZ (NFR 155945/700) and the Arctic Ocean Expedition-2001, are highly acknowledged as well as the economic support received through these projects. This publication is a contribution to all those projects, and to the SCOR#120 working group. We appreciate constructive comments from two anonymous referees, and thank the organisers of the symposium “Phaeocystis, major link in the biogeochemical cycling of climate-relevant elements” for the opportunity to publish these data.

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  1. Norwegian College of Fishery Science, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, 9037, Norway

    Marit Reigstad & Paul Wassmann

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  1. Marit Reigstad
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Correspondence to Marit Reigstad.

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Reigstad, M., Wassmann, P. Does Phaeocystis spp. contribute significantly to vertical export of organic carbon?. Biogeochemistry 83, 217–234 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-007-9093-3

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