Guo, Jinqiang, Zhou, Bu, Achterberg, Eric Pieter , Yuan, Huamao, Song, Jinming, Duan, Liqin and Li, Xuegang (2023) Rapid Cycling of Bacterial Particulate Organic Matter in the Upper Layer of the Western Pacific Warm Pool. Geophysical Research Letters, 50 (11). e2023GL102896. DOI 10.1029/2023GL102896.

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Abstract

Bacterial metabolism largely drives the sequestration of refractory organic matter in the ocean. However, a lack of understanding exists regarding the abundance and reactivity of bacterial particulate organic matter (POM). Here we report the bacterial contributions to suspended POM collected in the oligotrophic Western Pacific Warm Pool (WPWP). Around 27% of particulate organic carbon (POC) and ∼39% of particulate nitrogen (PN) in the surface ocean were derived from bacteria. Most of the bacterial POM (∼87%) was labile or semi-labile, and ∼85% of bacterial POM was removed between depths of ∼100–300 m. Bacterial POM constituted only ∼8% and ∼13% of refractory POC and PN, respectively. The rapid cycling of bacterial POM in upper waters was likely related to oligotrophic conditions and facilitated by higher temperatures in the WPWP. Taken together, these observations indicate that bacterial POM plays a crucial role in supplying energy for bacterial respiration.

Key Points

We assess bacterial contributions to suspended particulate organic matter (POM) in the Western Pacific Warm Pool on the basis of D-amino acid biomarkers

Bacterial organics constitute 27% of surface ocean particulate organic carbon (POC) and 39% of particulate nitrogen (PN), but majority (∼87%) is labile or semi-labile

Rapid cycling of bacterial POM in the upper ocean results in a contribution of only ∼8% to refractory POC and ∼13% to PN

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