Distribution and composition of particulate organic matter in the Ross Sea (Antarctica) |
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Authors: | Mauro Fabiano Paolo Povero Roberto Danovaro |
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Institution: | (1) Dipartimento di Biologia Animale ed Ecologia, Università di Cagliari, V. le Poetto, 1, Cagliari, Italy;(2) Instituto di Scienze Ambientali Marine, Università di Genova, Corso Rainusso 14, 16038 S. Margherita L. Genova, Italy |
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Abstract: | The biochemical composition and spatial distribution of particulate organic matter (POM) were studied in the Ross Sea (Antarctica) in summer 1989 to assess the quantitative role of organic carbon fractions in the cycling of organic matter in the water column. Large differences in chemical composition were observed between surface and deep layers. The results indicated that, despite large geographical differences, POM was quite homogeneous, of phytoplankton origin and mostly detrital. Different ratios were used to investigate the changes in biochemical composition of particulate organic matter in relation to the ice-melting: C N (organic carbon organic nitrogen ratio) and C-POM POC (sum of carbohydrate, protein and lipid carbon total organic carbon ratio) were used to analyse the percentage of refractory organic material. PPRT PCHO (protein carbohydrate ratio) were used to establish POM age and RNA DNA ratios as a relative measure of particulate activity; POC Chl a and N-PPRT Chl a ratios were used to estimate the autotrophic contribution to the suspended particulate organic matter. Despite its low caloric value (5.3 Kcal g POM–1), an high caloric content in the photic layer (1.6 Kcal m–3 of POM and 2.5 Kcal m–3 of POC) was found thus indicating that a large amount of food was available to higher trophic levels. |
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