Regulation of the Respiration Quotient Across Ocean Basins

Moreno, AR, Larkin, AA, Lee, JA, Gerace, SD, Tarran, GA and Martiny, AC 2022 Regulation of the Respiration Quotient Across Ocean Basins. AGU Advances, 3 (5). https://doi.org/10.1029/2022AV000679

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Abstract/Summary

A key uncertainty for predicting future ocean oxygen levels is the response and feedback of organic matter respiration demand. One poorly constrained component of the respiration demand is the oxygen-to-carbon remineralization ratio—the respiration quotient. Currently, multiple biological hypotheses can explain variation in the respiration quotient of organic matter produced in the surface ocean. To test these hypotheses, we directly quantified the particulate respiration quotient in 715 samples along a meridional section of the Atlantic Ocean and compared to previous Pacific Ocean observations. We demonstrate significant regional shifts in the respiration quotient and a two-basin average of 1.16. Possible diel oscillations were also observed in the respiration quotient. Basin and regional variation in the respiration quotient were positively linked to temperature, N versus P stress, and plankton size structure. These observations suggest a complex regulation of the respiration quotient with important implications for the regional coupling of carbon and oxygen cycling.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Divisions:	Plymouth Marine Laboratory > National Capability categories > Atlantic Meridional Transect Plymouth Marine Laboratory > Science Areas > Marine Biochemistry and Observations
Depositing User:	S Hawkins
Date made live:	26 May 2023 09:33
Last Modified:	26 May 2023 09:33
URI:	https://plymsea.ac.uk/id/eprint/9948

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