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Dissolution Dominates Silica Cycling in a Shelf Sea Autumn Bloom

  • Alex J. Poulton
  • , Kyle M. J. Mayers
  • , Chris J. Daniels
  • , Mark C. Stinchcombe
  • , E. Malcolm S. Woodward
  • , Joanne Hopkins
  • , Julianne U. Wihsgott
  • , Claire E. Widdicombe

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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Abstract

Autumn phytoplankton blooms represent key periods of production in temperate and high-latitude seas. Biogenic silica (bSiO2) production, dissolution and standing stocks were determined in the Celtic Sea (United Kingdom) during November 2014. Dissolution rates were in excess of bSiO2 production, indicating a net loss of bSiO2. Estimated diatom bSiO2 contributed ≤10% to total bSiO2, with detrital bSiO2 supporting rapid Si-cycling. Based on the average biomass-specific dissolution rate (0.2 d-1), 3 weeks would be needed to dissolve 99% of the bSiO2 present. Negative net bSiO2 production was associated with low-light conditions (<4 E m-2 d-1). Our observations imply that dissolution dominates Si-cycling during autumn, with low-light conditions also likely to influence Si-cycling during winter and early spring.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)6765-6774
Number of pages10
JournalGeophysical Research Letters
Volume46
Issue number12
Early online date4 Jun 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 28 Jun 2019

Keywords

  • autumn
  • bloom
  • coastal
  • diatoms
  • dissolution
  • silica

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geophysics
  • General Earth and Planetary Sciences

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