BIOGENIC PARTICLE TRANSFER ON THE NW MEDITERRANEAN CONTINENTAL-MARGIN- A SUMMARY OF ECOMARGE RESULTS

In the northwestern Mediterranean advection plays a prominent role in the transfer of matter and energy on continental margins. During winte r and spring, lithogenic fluxes cumulate with biogenic fluxes and rapi dly reach the slope sediments. Organic carbon evolution with depth ena bles two functional types of margins to be defined: an oceanic margin, characterized by a decreasing flux, and a continental margin, where t he flux increasing with depth indicates carbon advection from adjacent regions. A close coupling exists between spatial and temporal variabi lities of the particulate fluxes and those of benthic activities.