Evidence for the seasonal accumulation of carbon-rich dissolved organic material, its scale in comparison with changes in particulate material and the consequential effect on net C/N assimilation ratios

• Published in: Marine chemistry 1995, Vol.51 (1), p.17-29
• Main Author: Williams, PJL
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Marine
• ISSN: 0304-4203
• DOI: 10.1016/0304-4203(95)00046-T

The seasonal cycles of particulate and dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen were investigated using data from 5 independent studies in coastal waters of The Netherlands, California, Canada and the U.K. The dissolved organic matter was the dominant repository of seasonally fixed carbon and nitrogen in the areas studied. The seasonal increase of the dissolved organic fraction at all the sites studied was comparable to or exceeded that of the particulate fraction. There was a mid-to-late summer accumulation of carbon-rich dissolved organic matter. This would give net inorganic carbon and nitrogen assimilation ratios up to 14:1. Nitrogen limitation was suggested as a cause for the accumulation of the carbon-rich material. There was evidence for a summer increase of particulate organic carbon and particulate organic nitrogen. The significance of the carbon-rich dissolved organic material in late summer is discussed. There are 41 references.