Phytoplankton and heterotrophic respiration in the surface layer of the ocean
نویسندگان
چکیده
We suggest a way to estimate phytoplankton respiration separately from heterotrophic respiration. The analysis is based on three previous observations: (1) that carbon loss in the plankton overnight is phytoplankton respiration; (2) that phytoplankton respiration occurs during the day at the same rate as at night; and (3) that uptake of C estimates net primary production. Based on these three findings, it is proposed that phytoplankton respiration can be estimated as twice the overnight loss of organic carbon. Heterotrophic respiration can then be calculated as the difference between phytoplankton and total community respiration.
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