Mesoscale eddies drive increased silica export in the subtropical Pacific Ocean.
Mesoscale eddies may play a critical role in ocean biogeochemistry by increasing nutrient supply, primary production, and efficiency of the biological pump, that is, the ratio of carbon export to primary production in otherwise nutrient-deficient waters. We examined a diatom bloom within a cold-core cyclonic eddy off Hawaii. Eddy primary production, community biomass, and size composition were markedly enhanced but had little effect on the carbon export ratio. Instead, the system functioned as a selective silica pump. Strong trophic coupling and inefficient organic export may be general characteristics of community perturbation responses in the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean.
Benitez-Nelson
Claudia R
CR
Department of Geological Sciences and Marine Science Program, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA. cbnelson@geol.sc.edu
Bidigare
Robert R
RR
Dickey
Tommy D
TD
Landry
Michael R
MR
Leonard
Carrie L
CL
Brown
Susan L
SL
Nencioli
Francesco
F
Rii
Yoshimi M
YM
Maiti
Kanchan
K
Becker
Jamie W
JW
Bibby
Thomas S
TS
Black
Wil
W
Cai
Wei-Jun
WJ
Carlson
Craig A
CA
Chen
Feizhou
F
Kuwahara
Victor S
VS
Mahaffey
Claire
C
McAndrew
Patricia M
PM
Quay
Paul D
PD
Rappé
Michael S
MS
Selph
Karen E
KE
Simmons
Melinda P
MP
Yang
Eun Jin
EJ
D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development; D018533:Biomass; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000032:analysis; D017377:Diatoms / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D017753:Ecosystem; D006254:Hawaii; D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites / Q000032:analysis; D010140:Pacific Ocean; D010788:Photosynthesis; D010839:Phytoplankton / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D012824:Silicic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis*; D013696:Temperature; D014872:Water Movements; D015048:Zooplankton / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology
D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D012824:Silicic Acid; D002734:Chlorophyll; D002244:Carbon; D012822:Silicon Dioxide