Nanomolar phosphate supply and its recycling drive net community production in the subtropical North Pacific.
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 34103533.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-021-23837-y and PMC identifier 8187552.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Seasonal drawdown of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in the subtropical upper ocean makes a significant contribution to net community production (NCP) globally. Although NCP requires macronutrient supply, surface macronutrients are chronically depleted, and their supply has been unable to balance the NCP demand. Here, we report nanomolar increases in surface nitrate plus nitrite (N+N, ~20 nM) and phosphate (PO<sub>4</sub>, ~15 nM) from summer to winter in the western subtropical North Pacific. Molar ratios of upward fluxes of DIC:N+N:PO<sub>4</sub> to the euphotic zone (< 100 m) were in near-stoichiometric balance with microbial C:N:P ratios (107~243:16~35:1). Comparison of these upward influxes with other atmospheric and marine sources demonstrated that total supply is largely driven by the other sources for C and N (93~96%), but not for P (10%), suggesting that nanomolar upward supply of P and its preferential recycling play a vital role in sustaining the NCP.
Medical subject headings
- Ecosystem
- Phosphates
- Tropical Climate