Engel, Anja , Riebesell, Ulf and Zondervan, I. (2002) The Role of Transparent Exopolymer Particles (TEP) for Variations of the C:N:P Ratios during Phytoplankton Blooms. [Talk] In: EGS XXVII General Assembly. , 21.- 26.04.2002, Nice, France .

Abstract

A fraction of the photosynthetically fixed carbon is not used for phytoplankton growth, but channelled to the outer medium via exudation. This fraction include carbon rich exopolymers that coagulate to particles, such as transparent exopolymer particles (TEP). Through aggregation with cells and debris, TEP are incorporated into large, rapidly settling marine snow and contribute to the vertical flux of organic matter to the deep sea. The influence of TEP formation on the C:N:P stoichiometry of marine phy- toplankton blooms was examined during two mesocosm studies. During the blooms, which were dominated by a natural assembly of marine diatoms and the calcifying coccolithophorid Emiliania huxleyi, respectively, an increase of TEP concentration was observed immediately after nutrient depletion, followed by the appearance of ma- rine snow. The contribution of TEP to the carbon flow during both blooms indicates that sinking of TEP-rich marine snow is a possible mechanism for the removal of carbon from surface waters above calculations based on Redfield stoichiometry.

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