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Nutrient cycling between the water column and a marine sediment. I. Organic carbon

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Abstract

The carbon flow through the sediments at a station located in 18.3 m of water off the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, San Diego, California (USA) was determined. The parameters studied [and their mean rates of input (+) or output (-) to the benthos] were macro-detritus (+0.028 gC m-2day-1), fallout of particulate debris (+3.3 gC m-2day-1), benthic net photosynthesis during the day (-0.06 gC m-2 daylight period-1), burial (0 gC m-2day-1), benthic respiration at night (-0.28 gC m-2 night period-1), and resuspension (-3.0 gC m-2day-1). Resuspension of sediment at this station was found to have a controlling effect on the sediment organic carbon content. Benthic photosynthesis was able to provide 79% of the organic carbon required by the benthos for respiration during the daylight hours. A carbon-flow diagram linking together all of the above measurements is presented.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Marine Resources, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA

    E. O. Hartwig

  2. Chesapeake Bay Institute, The Johns Hopkins University, 21218, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

    E. O. Hartwig

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  1. E. O. Hartwig
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Communicated by M.R. Tripp, Newark

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Hartwig, E.O. Nutrient cycling between the water column and a marine sediment. I. Organic carbon. Marine Biology 34, 285–295 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00388805

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00388805

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