E. Fernandez et al., VERTICAL PARTICLE-FLUX IN OUTER SHELF WATERS OF THE SOUTHERN BAY-OF-BISCAY IN SUMMER 1993, Oceanologica acta, 18(3), 1995, pp. 379-384
Export of particulate matter out of the euphotic zone was measured in
the southern Bay of Biscay in summer 1993 using shallow (50 m) sedimen
t traps deployed for a short period in outer shelf waters. The sedimen
ted material consisted of intact and degraded faecal pellets, diatom f
rustules, coccolithophorid cells, detached coccoliths and zooplankton
remains. Measured vertical fluxes were 173-236 mg C m(-2) day(-1), 18-
20 mg N m(-2) day(-1) and 3.8-4.5 mg C m(-2) day(-1), respectively for
particulate organic carbon (POC), particulate organic nitrogen (PON)
and particulate inorganic carbon (PIC). The downward flux of POC repre
sented 24-37% of the estimated primary production. Export of PIC accou
nted for only 2% of the total carbon flux. A large proportion (50-70%)
of the material retained in the traps originated from phytoplankton.
The contribution of 'living' phytoplankton to organic carbon fluxing o
ut of the fertile zone was, however, less than 10%.