Dissolution Dominates Silica Cycling in a Shelf Sea Autumn Bloom



Poulton, AJ, Mayers, KMJ, Daniels, CJ, Stinchcombe, MC, Woodward, EMS, Hopkins, J, Wihsgott, JU ORCID: 0000-0002-7909-0007 and Widdicombe, CE
(2019) Dissolution Dominates Silica Cycling in a Shelf Sea Autumn Bloom. Geophysical Research Letters, 46 (12). pp. 6765-6774.

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Abstract

©2019. The Authors. Autumn phytoplankton blooms represent key periods of production in temperate and high-latitude seas. Biogenic silica (bSiO2) production, dissolution, and standing stocks were determined in the Celtic Sea (United Kingdom) during November 2014. Dissolution rates were in excess of bSiO2 production, indicating a net loss of bSiO2. Estimated diatom bSiO2 contributed ≤10% to total bSiO2, with detrital bSiO2 supporting rapid Si cycling. Based on the average biomass-specific dissolution rate (0.2 day−1), 3 weeks would be needed to dissolve 99% of the bSiO2 present. Negative net bSiO2 production was associated with low-light conditions (<4 E·m−2·day−1). Our observations imply that dissolution dominates Si cycling during autumn, with low-light conditions also likely to influence Si cycling during winter and early spring.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: diatoms, silica, dissolution, coastal, autumn, bloom
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 16 Aug 2019 07:41
Last Modified: 19 Jan 2023 00:29
DOI: 10.1029/2019GL083558
Open Access URL: https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL083558
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3051913