Stability of Marine Organic Matter Respiration Stoichiometry

T. Tanioka, K. Matsumoto

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

The amount of oxygen consumed during organic matter remineralization critically depends on how much organic carbon is remineralized per unit dissolved oxygen respired (respiratory quotient, RQ) but the global distribution and the mechanisms that control RQ are not well understood. Here we estimate RQ in the surface ocean by using two independent methods, one using satellite-derived macromolecular composition of phytoplankton and another using objectively gridded nutrient data. Both methods yield mean RQ of ~0.7 with small spatial variability consistent with previous estimates. This pattern is likely to be a result of phytoplankton protein content universally exceeding those of carbohydrates and lipids. At face value, the relative stability of RQ suggests that the remineralization stoichiometry will not affect the ongoing deoxygenation of the world ocean. However, the possibility remains that RQ may increase in the future (e.g., organic matter becoming more carbohydrate-dominated) and thus ameliorate deoxygenation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere2019GL085564
JournalGeophysical Research Letters
Volume47
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 16 2020

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
©2020. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.

Keywords

  • Redfield ratio
  • elemental stoichiometry
  • marine phytoplankton
  • organic matter respiration
  • oxygen cycle

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Stability of Marine Organic Matter Respiration Stoichiometry'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this