The Distribution of Particulate Organic Carbon in the Oceans: Ecological Implications

✍ Scribed by Dr. Peter J. Wangersky

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1978
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 530 KB
• Volume: 63
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1434-2944
• DOI: 10.1002/iroh.19780630416

✦ Synopsis

Distribution of particulate organic carbon (POC) in the oceans appears to be in the form of small "rlonds" high in POC superimposed on lower background values typical of depth and water mass.

The background values display an exponential decrease with depth. Samples taken a t close intervals, both vertical and horizontal, suggest that the extent of these clouds in water below the pliotic zone must be less than a meter in any dimension. The concentration of POC in the clouds IS of the same order as that found in surface waters. Feeding behaviour of the larger zooplankton may involve active searching for these patches; the organisms should be examined for evidences of niechanisms for finding patches. The maximum distancr between patcheii, even in deeper water, must be of the order of a few tens of meters.