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Respiration in the open ocean

Nature volume 420, pages 379–384 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

A key question when trying to understand the global carbon cycle is whether the oceans are net sources or sinks of carbon. This will depend on the production of organic matter relative to the decomposition due to biological respiration. Estimates of respiration are available for the top layers, the mesopelagic layer, and the abyssal waters and sediments of various ocean regions. Although the total open ocean respiration is uncertain, it is probably substantially greater than most current estimates of particulate organic matter production. Nevertheless, whether the biota act as a net source or sink of carbon remains an open question.

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Acknowledgements

We thank M. Pace, T. Bouvier and E. Smith for comments on the manuscript, and particularly P. leB. Williams for extensive input; we also thank H. Canut for encouragement and S. Agustí for inspiration. This work was supported by the Spanish Plan Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo, the Cátedra Programme of the Banco de Bilbao y Vizcaya Foundation, and the US National Science Foundation.

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Author notes

  1. Paul A. del Giorgio and Carlos M. Duarte: These authors contributed equally to this work

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Départment des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, CP 8888, succ Centre Ville, Québec, H3C 3P8, Montréal, Canada

    Paul A. del Giorgio

  2. IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), Instituto Mediterráneo de Estudios Avanzados, C/Miquel Marqués 21, 07190, Esporles (Islas Baleares), Spain

    Carlos M. Duarte

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  1. Paul A. del Giorgio
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  2. Carlos M. Duarte
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Correspondence to Paul A. del Giorgio.

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del Giorgio, P., Duarte, C. Respiration in the open ocean. Nature 420, 379–384 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature01165

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