scholarly journals Impact of dust addition on the metabolism of Mediterranean plankton communities and carbon export under present and future conditions of pH and temperature

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (19) ◽  
pp. 5423-5446
Author(s):  
Frédéric Gazeau ◽  
France Van Wambeke ◽  
Emilio Marañón ◽  
Maria Pérez-Lorenzo ◽  
Samir Alliouane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Primary Production ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Tyrrhenian Sea ◽  
Dust Deposition ◽  
Production Rates ◽  
Carbon Export ◽  
Metabolic Balance

Abstract. Although atmospheric dust fluxes from arid as well as human-impacted areas represent a significant source of nutrients to surface waters of the Mediterranean Sea, studies focusing on the evolution of the metabolic balance of the plankton community following a dust deposition event are scarce, and none were conducted in the context of projected future levels of temperature and pH. Moreover, most of the experiments took place in coastal areas. In the framework of the PEACETIME project, three dust-addition perturbation experiments were conducted in 300 L tanks filled with surface seawater collected in the Tyrrhenian Sea (TYR), Ionian Sea (ION) and Algerian basin (FAST) on board the R/V Pourquoi Pas? in late spring 2017. For each experiment, six tanks were used to follow the evolution of chemical and biological stocks, biological activity and particle export. The impacts of a dust deposition event simulated at their surface were followed under present environmental conditions and under a realistic climate change scenario for 2100 (ca. +3 ∘C and −0.3 pH units). The tested waters were all typical of stratified oligotrophic conditions encountered in the open Mediterranean Sea at this period of the year, with low rates of primary production and a metabolic balance towards net heterotrophy. The release of nutrients after dust seeding had very contrasting impacts on the metabolism of the communities, depending on the station investigated. At TYR, the release of new nutrients was followed by a negative impact on both particulate and dissolved 14C-based production rates, while heterotrophic bacterial production strongly increased, driving the community to an even more heterotrophic state. At ION and FAST, the efficiency of organic matter export due to mineral/organic aggregation processes was lower than at TYR and likely related to a lower quantity/age of dissolved organic matter present at the time of the seeding and a smaller production of DOM following dust addition. This was also reflected by lower initial concentrations in transparent exopolymer particles (TEPs) and a lower increase in TEP concentrations following the dust addition, as compared to TYR. At ION and FAST, both the autotrophic and heterotrophic community benefited from dust addition, with a stronger relative increase in autotrophic processes observed at FAST. Our study showed that the potential positive impact of dust deposition on primary production depends on the initial composition and metabolic state of the investigated community. This impact is constrained by the quantity of nutrients added in order to sustain both the fast response of heterotrophic prokaryotes and the delayed one of primary producers. Finally, under future environmental conditions, heterotrophic metabolism was overall more impacted than primary production, with the consequence that all integrated net community production rates decreased with no detectable impact on carbon export, therefore reducing the capacity of surface waters to sequester anthropogenic CO2.

scholarly journals Impact of dust addition on the metabolism of Mediterranean plankton communities and carbon export under present and future conditions of pH and temperature

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frédéric Gazeau ◽  
France Van Wambeke ◽  
Emilio Marañón ◽  
Maria Pérez-Lorenzo ◽  
Samir Alliouane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Primary Production ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Tyrrhenian Sea ◽  
Dust Deposition ◽  
Production Rates ◽  
Carbon Export ◽  
Metabolic Balance

Abstract. Although atmospheric dust fluxes from arid as well as human-impacted areas represent a significant source of nutrients to surface waters of the Mediterranean Sea, studies focusing on the evolution of the metabolic balance of the plankton community following a dust deposition event are scarce and none were conducted in the context of projected future levels of temperature and pH. Moreover, most of the experiments took place in coastal areas. In the framework of the PEACETIME project, three dust-addition perturbation experiments were conducted in 300-L tanks filled with surface seawater collected in the Tyrrhenian Sea (TYR), Ionian Sea (ION) and in the Algerian basin (FAST) onboard the R/V “Pourquoi Pas?” in late spring 2017. For each experiment, six tanks were used to follow the evolution of chemical and biological stocks, biological activity and particle export. The impacts of a dust deposition event simulated at their surface were followed under present environmental conditions and under a realistic climate change scenario for 2100 (ca. +3 °C and −0.3 pH units). The tested waters were all typical of stratified oligotrophic conditions encountered in the open Mediterranean Sea at this period of the year, with low rates of primary production and a metabolic balance towards net heterotrophy. The release of nutrients after dust seeding had very contrasting impacts on the metabolism of the communities, depending on the station investigated. At TYR, the release of new nutrients was followed by a negative impact on both particulate and dissolved 14C-based production rates, while heterotrophic bacterial production strongly increased, driving the community to an even more heterotrophic state. At ION and FAST, the efficiency of organic matter export due to mineral/organic aggregation processes was lower than at TYR likely related to a lower quantity/age of dissolved organic matter present at the time of the seeding. At these stations, both the autotrophic and heterotrophic community benefited from dust addition, with a stronger relative increase in autotrophic processes observed at FAST. Our study showed that the potential positive impact of dust deposition on primary production depends on the initial composition and metabolic state of the investigated community. This potential is constrained by the quantity of nutrients added in order to sustain both the fast response of heterotrophic prokaryotes and the delayed one of primary producers. Finally, under future environmental conditions, heterotrophic metabolism was overall more impacted than primary production, with the consequence that all integrated net community production rates decreased with no detectable impact on carbon export, therefore reducing the capacity of surface waters to sequester anthropogenic CO2.

scholarly journals Impact of dust addition on Mediterranean plankton communities under present and future conditions of pH and temperature: an experimental overview

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (17) ◽  
pp. 5011-5034
Author(s):  
Frédéric Gazeau ◽  
Céline Ridame ◽  
France Van Wambeke ◽  
Samir Alliouane ◽  
Christian Stolpe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
External Source ◽  
Saharan Dust ◽  
Tyrrhenian Sea ◽  
Dust Deposition ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Autotrophic Biomass ◽  
Biogeochemical Parameters ◽  
Plankton Communities

Abstract. In low-nutrient low-chlorophyll areas, such as the Mediterranean Sea, atmospheric fluxes represent a considerable external source of nutrients likely supporting primary production, especially during periods of stratification. These areas are expected to expand in the future due to lower nutrient supply from sub-surface waters caused by climate-driven enhanced stratification, likely further increasing the role of atmospheric deposition as a source of new nutrients to surface waters. Whether plankton communities will react differently to dust deposition in a warmer and acidified environment remains; however, an open question. The potential impact of dust deposition both in present and future climate conditions was investigated in three perturbation experiments in the open Mediterranean Sea. Climate reactors (300 L) were filled with surface water collected in the Tyrrhenian Sea, Ionian Sea and in the Algerian basin during a cruise conducted in the frame of the PEACETIME project in May–June 2017. The experiments comprised two unmodified control tanks, two tanks enriched with a Saharan dust analogue and two tanks enriched with the dust analogue and maintained under warmer (+3 ∘C) and acidified (−0.3 pH unit) conditions. Samples for the analysis of an extensive number of biogeochemical parameters and processes were taken over the duration (3–4 d) of the experiments. Dust addition led to a rapid release of nitrate and phosphate, however, nitrate inputs were much higher than phosphate. Our results showed that the impacts of Saharan dust deposition in three different basins of the open northwestern Mediterranean Sea are at least as strong as those observed previously, all performed in coastal waters. The effects of dust deposition on biological stocks were different for the three investigated stations and could not be attributed to differences in their degree of oligotrophy but rather to the initial metabolic state of the community. Ocean acidification and warming did not drastically modify the composition of the autotrophic assemblage, with all groups positively impacted by warming and acidification. Although autotrophic biomass was more positively impacted than heterotrophic biomass under future environmental conditions, a stronger impact of warming and acidification on mineralization processes suggests a decreased capacity of Mediterranean surface plankton communities to sequester atmospheric CO2 following the deposition of atmospheric particles.

scholarly journals Impact of dust enrichment on Mediterranean plankton communities under present and future conditions of pH and temperature: an experimental overview

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frédéric Gazeau ◽  
Céline Ridame ◽  
France Van Wambeke ◽  
Samir Alliouane ◽  
Christian Stolpe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Future Climate ◽  
Saharan Dust ◽  
Future Climate Change ◽  
Tyrrhenian Sea ◽  
Dust Deposition ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Plankton Communities

Abstract. In Low Nutrient Low Chlorophyll areas, such as the Mediterranean Sea, atmospheric fluxes represent a considerable external source of nutrients likely supporting primary production especially during stratification periods. These areas are expected to expand in the future due to lower nutrient supply from sub-surface waters caused by enhanced stratification, likely further increasing the role of atmospheric deposition as a source of new nutrients to surface waters. Yet, whether plankton communities will react differently to dust deposition in a warmer and acidified environment remains an open question. The impact of dust deposition both in present and future climate conditions was assessed through three perturbation experiments in the open Mediterranean Sea. Climate reactors (300 L) were filled with surface water collected in the Tyrrhenian Sea, Ionian Sea and in the Algerian basin during a cruise conducted in May/June 2017 in the frame of the PEACETIME project. The experimental protocol comprised two unmodified control tanks, two tanks enriched with a Saharan dust analog and two tanks enriched with the dust analog and maintained under warmer (+3 °C) and acidified (−0.3 pH unit) conditions. Samples for the analysis of an extensive number of biogeochemical parameters and processes were taken over the duration of the experiments (3–4 d). Here, we present the general setup of the experiments and the impacts of dust seeding and/or future climate change scenario on nutrients and biological stocks. Dust addition led to a rapid and maximum input of nitrate whereas phosphate release from the dust analog was much smaller. Our results showed that the impacts of Saharan dust deposition in three different basins of the open Northwestern Mediterranean Sea are at least as strong as those observed previously in coastal waters. However, interestingly, the effects of dust deposition on biological stocks were highly different between the three investigated stations and could not be attributed to differences in their degree of oligotrophy but rather to the initial metabolic state of the community. Finally, ocean acidification and warming did not drastically modify the composition of the autotrophic assemblage with all groups positively impacted by warming and acidification, suggesting an exacerbation of effects from atmospheric dust deposition in the future.

scholarly journals Impact of dust addition on the microbial food web under present and future conditions of pH and temperature

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Dinasquet ◽  
Estelle Bigeard ◽  
Frédéric Gazeau ◽  
Farooq Azam ◽  
Cécile Guieu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Web ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Microbial Loop ◽  
Saharan Dust ◽  
Tyrrhenian Sea ◽  
Dust Deposition ◽  
Top Down ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. In the oligotrophic waters of the Mediterranean Sea, during the stratification period, the microbial loop relies on pulsed inputs of nutrients through atmospheric deposition of aerosols from both natural (Saharan dust) and anthropogenic origins. While the influence of dust deposition on microbial processes and community composition is still not fully constrained, the extent to which future environmental conditions will affect dust inputs and the microbial response is not known. The impact of atmospheric wet dust deposition was studied both under present and future (warming and acidification) environmental conditions through experiments in 300 L climate reactors. Three dust addition experiments were performed with surface seawater collected from the Tyrrhenian Sea, Ionian Sea and Algerian basin in the Western Mediterranean Sea during the PEACETIME cruise in May–June 2017. Top-down controls on bacteria, viral processes and community, as well as microbial community structure (16S and 18S rDNA amplicon sequencing) were followed over the 3–4 days experiments. Different microbial and viral responses to dust were observed rapidly after addition and were most of the time higher when combined to future environmental conditions. The input of nutrients and trace metals changed the microbial ecosystem from bottom-up limited to a top-down controlled bacterial community, likely from grazing and induced lysogeny. The composition of mixotrophic microeukaryotes and phototrophic prokaryotes was also altered. Overall, these results suggest that the effect of dust deposition on the microbial loop is dependent on the initial microbial assemblage and metabolic state of the tested water, and that predicted warming, and acidification will intensify these responses, affecting food web processes and biogeochemical cycles.

scholarly journals Fluorescence and absorption properties of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in coastal surface waters of the northwestern Mediterranean Sea, influence of the Rhône River

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 4083-4103 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Para ◽  
P. G. Coble ◽  
B. Charrière ◽  
M. Tedetti ◽  
C. Fontana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Optical Properties ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter ◽  
River Plumes ◽  
Rhône River ◽  
Rhone River ◽  
Northwestern Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Northwestern Mediterranean

Abstract. Seawater samples were collected monthly in surface waters (2 and 5 m depths) of the Bay of Marseilles (northwestern Mediterranean Sea; 5°17'30" E, 43°14'30" N) during one year from November 2007 to December 2008 and studied for total organic carbon (TOC) as well as chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) optical properties (absorbance and fluorescence). The annual mean value of surface CDOM absorption coefficient at 350 nm [aCDOM(350)] was very low (0.10 ± 0.02 m−1) in comparison to values usually found in coastal waters, and no significant seasonal trend in aCDOM(350) could be determined. By contrast, the spectral slope of CDOM absorption (SCDOM) was significantly higher (0.023 ± 0.003 nm−1) in summer than in fall and winter periods (0.017 ± 0.002 nm−1), reflecting either CDOM photobleaching or production in surface waters during stratified sunny periods. The CDOM fluorescence, assessed through excitation emission matrices (EEMs), was dominated by protein-like component (peak T; 1.30–21.94 QSU) and marine humic-like component (peak M; 0.55–5.82 QSU), while terrestrial humic-like fluorescence (peak C; 0.34–2.99 QSU) remained very low. This reflected a dominance of relatively fresh material from biological origin within the CDOM fluorescent pool. At the end of summer, surface CDOM fluorescence was very low and strongly blue shifted, reinforcing the hypothesis of CDOM photobleaching. Our results suggested that unusual Rhône River plume eastward intrusion events might reach Marseilles Bay within 2–3 days and induce local phytoplankton blooms and subsequent fluorescent CDOM production (peaks M and T) without adding terrestrial fluorescence signatures (peaks C and A). Besides Rhône River plumes, mixing events of the entire water column injected relative aged (peaks C and M) CDOM from the bottom into the surface and thus appeared also as an important source of CDOM in surface waters of the Marseilles Bay. Therefore, the assessment of CDOM optical properties, within the hydrological context, pointed out several biotic (in situ biological production, biological production within Rhône River plumes) and abiotic (photobleaching, mixing) factors controlling CDOM transport, production and removal in this highly urbanized coastal area.

scholarly journals Strong stimulation of N<sub>2</sub> fixation in oligotrophic Mediterranean Sea: results from dust addition in large in situ mesocosms

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 7333-7346 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Ridame ◽  
C. Guieu ◽  
S. L'Helguen
Keyword(s):  
Primary Production ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
N2 Fixation ◽  
Wet Deposition ◽  
Saharan Dust ◽  
Dust Deposition ◽  
New Production ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Stimulation Of

Abstract. The response of N2 (dinitrogen) fixation to contrasted (wet and dry) Saharan dust deposition was studied in the framework of the DUNE project (a DUst experiment in a low-Nutrient, low-chlorophyll Ecosystem) during which realistic simulations of dust deposition (10 g m−2) into large mesocosms (52 m3) were performed. Three distinct experimental dust additions were conducted in June 2008 (DUNE-1-P: simulation of a wet deposition, DUNE-1-Q: simulation of a dry deposition) and 2010 (DUNE-2-R: simulation of 2 successive wet depositions) in the northwestern oligotrophic Mediterranean Sea. Here we show that wet and dry dust deposition induced a rapid (24 h or 48 h after dust additions), strong (from 2- to 5.3-fold) and long (at least 4–6 days duration) increase in N2 fixation, indicating that both wet and dry Saharan dust deposition was able to relieve efficiently the nutrient limitation(s) of N2 fixation. This means in particular that N2 fixation activity was not inhibited by the significant input of nitrate associated with the simulated wet deposition (~ 9 mmol NO3− m−2). The input of new nitrogen associated with N2 fixation was negligible relative to the atmospheric NO3− input associated with the dust. The contribution of N2 fixation to primary production was negligible (≤ 1%) before and after dust addition in all experiments, indicating that N2 fixation was a poor contributor to the nitrogen demand for primary production. Despite the stimulation of N2 fixation by dust addition, the rates remained low, and did not significantly change the contribution of N2 fixation to new production since only a maximum contribution of 10% was observed. The response of N2 fixation by diazotrophs and CO2 fixation by the whole phytoplankton community suggests that these metabolic processes were limited or co-limited by different nutrients. With this novel approach, which allows us to study processes as a function of time while atmospheric particles are sinking, we show that new atmospheric nutrients associated with Saharan dust pulses do significantly stimulate N2 fixation in the Mediterranean Sea and that N2 fixation is not a key process in the carbon cycle in such oligotrophic environments.

scholarly journals Phytoplanktonic response to contrasted Saharan dust deposition events during mesocosm experiments in LNLC environment

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 753-796 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Ridame ◽  
J. Dekaezemacker ◽  
C. Guieu ◽  
S. Bonnet ◽  
S. L'Helguen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Production ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Dry Deposition ◽  
Wet Deposition ◽  
Algal Biomass ◽  
Saharan Dust ◽  
Dust Deposition ◽  
New Production ◽  
Chl A ◽  
Mesocosm Experiments

Abstract. The response of the phytoplanktonic community (primary production and algal biomass) to contrasted Saharan dust events (wet and dry deposition) was studied in the framework of the DUNE "a DUst experiment in a low-Nutrient, low-chlorophyll Ecosystem" project. We simulated realistic dust deposition events (10 g m−2) into large mesocosms (52 m3). Three distinct experimental dust additions were conducted in June 2008 (DUNE-1-P: simulation of a wet deposition, DUNE-1-Q: simulation of a dry deposition) and 2010 (DUNE-2-R1, -R2: simulation of 2 successive wet depositions) in the northwestern oligotrophic Mediterranean Sea. No changes in primary production (PP) and chlorophyll a concentration (Chl a) were observed after a dry deposition event while a wet deposition event resulted in a rapid (24 h after dust additions), strong (up 2.4 fold) and long (at least a week duration) increase in PP and Chl a. We show that in addition to being a source of dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP), simulated wet deposition events were also a significant source of NO3− (net increases up to +9.8 μM NO3− at 0.1 m depth) to the nutrient depleted surface waters due to cloud processes and mixing with anthropogenic species such as HNO3. The dry deposition event was shown to be a negligible source of NO3−. By transiently increasing DIP and NO3− concentrations in P-N starved surface waters, wet deposition of Saharan dust was able to relieve the potential N or NP co-limitation of the phytoplanktonic activity. Due to the higher input of NO3− relative to DIP, a wet deposition event resulted in a strong increase in the NO3−/DIP ratio from initially < 6 to over 150 at the end of the DUNE-2-R1 experiment suggesting a switch from an initial N or NP co-limitation towards a severe P limitation. We also show that the contribution of new production to PP increased after wet dust deposition events from initially 15% to 60–70% 24 h after seeding, indicating a switch from a regenerated-production based system to a new-production based system. DUNE experiments show that wet and dry dust deposition events induce contrasted responses of the phytoplanktonic community due to differences in the atmospheric supply of bioavailable new nutrients. Our results from original mesocosm experiments demonstrate that atmospheric dust wet deposition greatly influences primary productivity and algal biomass in LNLC environments, changes nutrient stocks and alters the NO3−/DIP ratio leading to a switch in the nutrient limitation of the phytoplanktonic activity.

scholarly journals Fluorescence and absorption properties of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in coastal surface waters of the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea (Bay of Marseilles, France)

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 5675-5718 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Para ◽  
P. G. Coble ◽  
B. Charrière ◽  
M. Tedetti ◽  
C. Fontana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Optical Properties ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter ◽  
River Plumes ◽  
Rhône River ◽  
Rhone River ◽  
Northwestern Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Northwestern Mediterranean

Abstract. Seawater samples were collected in surface waters (2 and 5 m depths) of the Bay of Marseilles (Northwestern Mediterranean Sea; 5°17′30′′ E, 43°14′30′′ N) during one year from November 2007 to December 2008 and studied for total organic carbon (TOC) as well as chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) optical properties (absorbance and fluorescence). The annual mean value of surface CDOM absorption coefficient at 350 nm [aCDOM(350)] was very low (0.10 ± 0.02 m−1) with in comparison to values usually found in coastal waters, and no significant seasonal trend in aCDOM(350) could be determined. By contrast, the spectral slope of CDOM absorption (SCDOM) was significantly higher (0.023 ± 0.003 nm−1) in summer than in fall and winter periods (0.017 ± 0.002 nm−1), reflecting either CDOM photobleaching or production in surface waters during stratified sunny periods. The CDOM fluorescence, assessed through excitation emission matrices (EEMs), was dominated by protein-like component (peak T; 1.30–21.94 QSU) and marine humic-like component (peak M; 0.55–5.82 QSU), while terrestrial humic-like fluorescence (peak C; 0.34–2.99 QSU) remained very low. This reflected a dominance of relatively fresh material from biological origin within the CDOM fluorescent pool. At the end of summer, surface CDOM fluorescence was very low and strongly blue shifted, reinforcing the hypothesis of CDOM photobleaching. Our results suggested that unusual Rhône River plume eastward intrusion events may reach Marseilles Bay within 2–3 days and induce local phytoplankton blooms and subsequent fluorescent CDOM production (peaks M and T) without adding terrestrial fluorescence signatures (peak C). Besides Rhône River plumes, mixing events of the entire water column injected humic (peaks C and M) CDOM from the bottom into the surface and thus appeared also as an important source of CDOM in surface waters of the Marseilles Bay. Therefore, the assessment of CDOM optical properties, within the hydrological context, pointed out several biotic (in situ biological production, biological production within Rhône River plumes) and abiotic (photobleaching, mixing) factors controlling CDOM transport, production and removal in this highly urbanized coastal area.

scholarly journals Stable carbon isotope deviations in benthic foraminifera as proxy for organic carbon fluxes in the Mediterranean Sea

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Theodor ◽  
Gerhard Schmiedl ◽  
Frans Jorissen ◽  
Andreas Mackensen
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Transfer Function ◽  
Primary Production ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Carbon Isotope ◽  
Pore Water ◽  
Benthic Foraminifera ◽  
Stable Carbon Isotope ◽  
Aegean Sea ◽  
Stable Carbon

Abstract. We have determined stable carbon isotope ratios of epifaunal and shallow infaunal benthic foraminifera to relate the inferred gradient of pore water δ13CDIC to varying trophic conditions, and to test the potential of developing a transfer function for organic matter flux rates. The data set is based on samples retrieved from a well-defined bathymetric range (400–1500 m water depth) of sub-basins in the western, central and eastern Mediterranean Sea. Regional contrasts in organic matter fluxes and associated δ13CDIC of pore water are recorded by the δ13C difference (Δδ13CUmed-Epi) between the shallow infaunal Uvigerina mediterranea and epifaunal species (Planulina ariminensis, Cibicidoides pachydermus, Cibicides lobatulus). The Δδ13CUmed-Epi values range from −0.46 to −2.13 ‰, with generally higher offsets at more eutrophic sites. Because of ontogenetic shifts in the δ13C signal of U. mediterranea of up to 1.04 ‰, only tests larger than 600 µm were used for the quantitative environmental evaluation. The measured δ13C deviations are related to site-specific differences in microhabitat, depth of the principal redox boundary, and TOC content. The Δδ13CUmed-Epi values reveal a consistent relation to Corg fluxes estimated from satellite-derived surface water primary production in open-marine settings of the Alboran Sea, Mallorca Channel, Strait of Sicily and southern Aegean Sea. In contrast, Δδ13CUmed-Epi values in areas affected by intense resuspension and riverine organic matter sources of the northern to central Aegean Sea and the canyon systems of the Gulf of Lions suggest higher Corg fluxes compared to the values based on recent surface primary production. Considering the regional biases and uncertainties, a first Δδ13CUmed-Epi based transfer function for Corg fluxes could be established for the Mediterranean Sea.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document