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Benthic decomposition of organic matter at a deep-water site in the Panama Basin

Nature volume 327, pages 703–704 (1987)Cite this article

Abstract

Deep-sea sediments are linked to processes in surface waters by the sinking of participate matter1–3. These particles represent the supply of energy for the biota of most of the deep sea4. The particulate matter that sinks through the water column to a deep-water site (3,856 m deep) in the Panama Basin (North Malpelo Flat; 5°21' N, 81°53' W) consists largely of coccolithophorids and associated macroaggregates5. The surface sediments at the same site were extremely depleted in these biogenic materials, suggesting rapid rates of mineralization in a narrow transition layer near the sediment/water interface. Here we present evidence suggesting that 50–85% of the organic carbon that reaches these deep-sea sediments is remineralized within one year. The decomposition of these recently surface-derived particles may account for essentially all of benthic decomposition at this site.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Ecosystem Studies, The New York Botanical Garden, Mary Flagler Gary Arboretum, Millbrook, New York, 12545, USA

    Jonathan J. Cole

  2. Department of Geology and Geophysics, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, 02543, USA

    Susumu Honjo

  3. The H. Steinitz Marine Biological Laboratory, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Elat, Israel

    Jonathan Erez

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  2. Susumu Honjo
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  3. Jonathan Erez
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Cole, J., Honjo, S. & Erez, J. Benthic decomposition of organic matter at a deep-water site in the Panama Basin. Nature 327, 703–704 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/327703a0

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