title: Microbial respiratory activity in the euphotic zone of the Mediterranean Sea.
abstract: Microplankton respiration in the euphotic zone in the Central Mediterranean Sea was calculated by ETS activity measurements. Distribution of ETSa in the studied area appeared homogeneous and comparable with previous data measured in the Mediterranean Sea. A typical ETSa value for euphotic Mediterranean waters of 0.14 meq O2 h-1 m-3 was calculated. The investigated area supports a metabolic CO2 production of 70 g C m-2 y-1. When compared with regional productivity, the respiration budget in the euphotic zone accounted for 22% of carbon fixed. ETSa appeared a useful assay for the study of evolutive history of the water masses in the Mediterranean Sea.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Sperimentale Talassografico, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: La Ferla
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Azzaro
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chiodo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D004579:Electron Transport; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010933:Plankton / Q000378:metabolism*; D012623:Seawater
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide