NUTRIENTS AND THEIR CYCLING

1
NUTRIENTS AND THEIR CYCLING
S

• Essential Elements
• Nutrient Cycling
• Vertical Distribution of Nutrients

2
Elements Essential to Plants and Animals
S
3
P
Note that some are major constituents of
seawater While others are minor or trace
constituents
4
S
5
13_01
P
NUTRIENTS
6
S
Photosynthesis - production of organic matter
- Decomposition - remineralization
7
P
8
P
9
S
10
Surface Area to Volume Relationships
S
11
P
Smaller particles have a larger SA/Vol.
Ratio, increasing the frictional drag (sinking
rates) and making small plants more efficient at
taking up nutrients from seawater
12
Nutrient Concentrations v Depth
S
13
NITRATE
S
14
P
Low concentrations except in equatorial
Pacific and high latitudes at the surface
15
P
Values increase at most latitudes below the
photic zone
16
S
Remineralization raises values in the deeper ocean
17
PHOSPHATE
S
18
(No Transcript)
19
S
20
S
21
SILICATE
S
22
S
23
S
24
S
25
P
26
GLOBAL PRIMARY PRODUCTIVITY
S
27
P
Purple is low chlorophyll - the majority of
the Surface area of the oceans
28
P
Smaller particles have a larger SA/Vol.
Ratio, increasing the frictional drag (sinking
rates) and making small plants more efficient at
taking up nutrients from seawater