Patterns in planktonic metabolism in the Mediterranean Sea

• Published in: Biogeosciences 2009-12, Vol.6 (12), p.3081-3089
• Main Authors: Regaudie-de-Gioux, A., Vaquer-Sunyer, R., Duarte, C. M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1726-4189; 1726-4170; 1726-4189
• DOI: 10.5194/bg-6-3081-2009

Planktonic gross community production (GPP), net community production (NCP) and community respiration (CR) across the Mediterranean Sea was examined in two cruises, Thresholds 2006 and 2007, each crossing the Mediterranean from West to East to test for consistent variation along this longitudinal gradient in late spring to early summer. GPP averaged 2.4±0.4 mmol O2 m−3 d−1, CR averaged 3.8±0.5 mmol O2 m−3 d−1, and NCP averaged – 0.8±0.6 mmol O2 m−3 d−1 across the studied sections, indicative of a tendency for a net heterotrophic metabolism in late spring to early summer, prevalent across studied sections of the Mediterranean Sea as reflected in 70% of negative NCP estimates. The median P/R ratio was 0.6, also indicating a strong prevalence of heterotrophic communities (P/R