Marine Biogeochemical Cycles

Phytoplankton photosynthesis is the initial step in the biological pump, where phytoplankton convert inorganic carbon into organic matter through photosynthesis.

Iron is a limiting factor for primary production in many parts of the ocean, particularly in high-nutrient, low-chlorophyll regions.

Export production refers to the sinking of organic matter from the surface ocean to the deep ocean.

Bacteria are responsible for the majority of remineralization of organic matter in the deep ocean.

Photosynthesis by marine phytoplankton is the primary mechanism for the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and its storage in the ocean.

Mangrove forests are highly efficient at sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere due to their high productivity and the accumulation of organic matter in their sediments.

Nitrogen fixation is the process by which nitrogen gas in the atmosphere is converted into a form usable by marine organisms, primarily through the action of certain bacteria.

Phytoplankton are the primary producers of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) in the marine environment.

Calcification, the process by which marine organisms form calcium carbonate shells or skeletons, is a major mechanism for the removal of excess carbon dioxide from the ocean.

Coral reefs are particularly vulnerable to ocean acidification because the decrease in pH makes it more difficult for corals to build their calcium carbonate skeletons.

Decomposition is the process by which organic matter is broken down and converted into inorganic compounds.

Bacteria play a crucial role in the cycling of sulfur in the ocean, particularly through the processes of sulfate reduction and sulfide oxidation.

Denitrification is the primary mechanism for the removal of excess nitrogen from the ocean, converting nitrate and nitrite into nitrogen gas.

Mangrove forests are particularly important for the cycling of mercury, as they can accumulate and transform mercury into less toxic forms.

Aggregation is the process by which dissolved organic matter (DOM) is converted into particulate organic matter (POM) through the formation of larger particles.