Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

SS19 Revisiting Redfield: C:N:P Stoichiometry in Aquatic Ecosystems (Disciplinary Connections)

Date: Tuesday, February 13, 2001, Time: 10:15:00 AM

Location: Acoma/Zuni/Tesuque

Neuer, S, , Arizona State University, Tempe, USA, susanne.neuer@asu.edu

Davenport, R, , University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany, bob.davenport@ri.dasa.de

Freudenthal, T, , University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany, freuden@allgeo.uni-bremen.de

Wefer, G, , University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany, gwefer@marum.de

Llinas, O, , Instituto Canario de Ciencias Marinas, Gran Canaria, Spain, ollinas@iccm.rcanaria.es

Rueda, M, J, Instituto Canario de Ciencias Marinas, Gran Canaria, Spain, mjrueda@iccm.rcanaria.es

Steinberg, D, K, Bermuda Biological Station, , Bermuda, debbie@bbsr.edu

Conte, M, H, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, USA, mconte@whoi.edu

Karl, D, M, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, USA, dkarl@soest.hawaii.edu

DIFFERENCES IN REDFIELD RATIOS BETWEEN OPEN OCEAN TIME SERIES STATIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR CARBON EXPORT

The past decade has witnessed a wealth of insights into the functioning and climate-sensitivity of oceanic biogeochemistry through intensive sampling programs at key sites in the open ocean. The sampling protocol of open ocean time-series stations allows for the investigation of the seasonal as well as multi-year and decadal variability of processes that affect the biological pump and ultimately the sequestration of anthropogenic CO2. Here we present a comparison of data records collected at the time-series stations ESTOC, located north of the Canary Islands (eastern subtropical North Atlantic), BATS (western subtropical North Atlantic) and HOT (eastern subtropical North Pacific). Despite similar phytoplankton biomass and productivity, export flux and N:P ratios of dissolved inorganic nutrients exhibit quite striking differences. In contrast to BATS and HOT, stoichiometry of dissolved inorganic nitrate/nitrite and phosphate is at Redfield's ratio at ESTOC indicating that dinitrogen fixation at this site is of minor importance as a source of new nutrients. In addition, the low export ratios at ESTOC are consistent with low diapycnal nitrogen input that may be characteristic of the eastern subtropical North Atlantic gyre.

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Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

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