introduction to the biological pump
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Introduction to the Biological Pump. Photosynthesis and Respiration. Photosynthesis. Respiration. Photosyntheis and Respiration and atmospheric CO2. Where do we see photosynthesis and respiration on this curve?. The ocean is a large carbon reservoir. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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Introduction to the Biological Pump
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Photosynthesis and Respiration
Photosynthesis
Respiration
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Photosyntheis and Respiration and atmospheric CO2
• Where do we see photosynthesis and respiration on this curve?
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The ocean is a large carbon reservoir
• Only the surface ocean is in equilibrium with the atmosphere
• What maintains the deep ocean carbon reservoir?
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Photosynthesis and Respiration in the Ocean
• Organisms that perform photosynthesis in the water column of the ocean are called phytoplankton
• Although phytoplankton account for only 1-2% of the total global biomass, these organisms are responsible for about 30-60% of the global annual fixation of carbon.
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Photosynthesis
• Carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere by phytoplankton that use CO2, sunlight and nutrients to make food through the process of photosynthesis.
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CO2
Phytoplankton
Photosynthesis
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Respiration
• Some CO2 is then released back into the water through respiration as the phytoplankton break down their food to release energy.
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CO2
Phytoplankton
Respiration
Photosynthesis
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Consumption
• Some of the carbon is passed on to primary consumers: zooplankton (drifting animals living in the water column) and other filter feeders (animals that filter water to catch their food) that depend on phytoplankton for their energy.
• Animals release CO2 through respiration
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CO2
Phytoplankton
Zooplankton
Consumption
Respiration
Photosynthesis
CO2
Resp
iratio
n
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Decomposition• Decomposition is the breakdown of non-living organic
matter
• Bacteria play a vital role in the biological pump by decomposing waste products and dead organisms that sink to the deep sea
• In most of the ocean, decomposition is aerobic (with oxygen), and essentially the same as respiration (releases CO2).
• In the upper oceans, bacteria can actually weaken the biological pump by reducing particulate flow to the deep.
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CO2
Phytoplankton
Zooplankton
Bacteria
Consumption
Deco
mpositi
on
Respiration
Photosynthesis
Remineralization CO2
CO2
Resp
iratio
n
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Higher Trophic Levels
• Consumption continues to transport carbon through higher trophic levels.
• These higher level consumers are eventually decomposed
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CO2 CO2 CO2
Phytoplankton
Zooplankton
Higher LevelConsumers
Bacteria
Consumption
Consumption
Deco
mpositi
on
Decomposition
Resp
iratio
n
Resp
iratio
n
Respiration
Photosynthesis
Remineralization CO2
Consumption
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Deep Ocean Carbon Storage
• The deep ocean is not in equilibrium with the atmosphere and therefore stores any CO2 released into the deep ocean for ~1000 years.
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Overview of the Biological Pump
Courtesy of Z. Johnson and Nature Magazine, October 12, 2001.
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What limits phytoplankton growth?
• If there is plenty of carbon in the upper ocean (there is) and plenty of light – why isn’t there more biomass?
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Nutrient Limitation• Like all primary producers, phytoplankton
need essential nutrients (N, P, C, and trace metals like Fe, Co, Mg) to grow
• The upper ocean has very low nutrients • Nutrient Limitation – the concept that growth
is limited by nutrient availibility
Dutkiewicz et al 2012
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N, P, Fe
• How do N, P, and Fe enter the ocean?• N – Nitrogen Fixation (The chemical processes
by which atmospheric nitrogen – N2 – is assimilated into bioavailable compounds)– Only a few organisms
• Fe – dust from continents• P, N, Fe – upwelling from the deep