Dilution limits dissolved organic carbon utilization in the deep ocean

Arrieta, Jesus M.; Mayol, Eva; Hansman, Roberta L.; Herndl, Gerhard J.; Dittmar, Thorsten; Duarte Carlos M.

Abstract

Oceanic dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is the second largest reservoir of organic carbon in the biosphere. About 72% of the global DOC inventory is stored in deep oceanic layers for years to centuries, supporting the current view that it consists of materials resistant to microbial degradation. An alternative hypothesis is that deep-water DOC consists of many different, intrinsically labile compounds at concentrations too low to compensate for the metabolic costs associated to their utilization. Here, we present experimental evidence showing that low concentrations rather than recalcitrance preclude consumption of a substantial fraction of DOC, leading to slow microbial growth in the deep ocean. These findings demonstrate an alternative mechanism for the long-term storage of labile DOC in the deep ocean, which has been hitherto largely ignored.

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Título según WOS: ID WOS:000352999000043 Not found in local WOS DB
Título de la Revista: SCIENCE
Volumen: 348
Número: 6232
Editorial: AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE
Fecha de publicación: 2015
Página de inicio: 331
Página final: 333
DOI:

10.1126/science.1258955

Notas: ISI