THE NO₃^-/-O₂ RESPIRATION RATIO OF THE DEEP SEDIMENTARY BIOSPHERE IN THE PACIFIC GYRES

Author

Yiya Huang, University of Rhode IslandFollow

Date of Award

2014

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Oceanography

Specialization

Chemical Oceanography

Department

Oceanography

First Advisor

Arthur Spivack

Abstract

Organic matter produced in the ocean has an average C/N ratio of 106:16 (the Redfield ratio). However, during transport to the seafloor, N is preferentially respired. This results in depletion of the N relative to C in the organic matter that fuels subseafloor microbial communities. It has also been argued that preferential depletion of organic N occurs in sediment. This depletion may force sedimentary microorganisms to reduce nitrate or fix dinitrogen, which requires the expenditure of a significant amount of additional energy in oxic sediment. Thus the availability of organic nitrogen may place a fundamental control on energy budget and ecosystem of the sedimentary microbial life.

We test this possibility by determining the NO₃^-/-O₂ respiration ratio at three sites in the Pacific gyres. We created a diffusion-reaction model and used existing dissolved oxygen and nitrate profiles from interstitial water to determine the best-fit NO₃^-/-O₂ respiration ratio. This model has an advantage over linear correlation analysis, because it explicitly considers respiration as a function of depth, and uses the curvature of the concentration profiles to determine the microbial reactions.

The down-core profiles of dissolved oxygen and nitrate reflect the net production of nitrate and consumption of oxygen due to microbial aerobic respiration. The curvature in the profiles reveals that organic nitrogen is not depleted in sedimentary organic matter respired. Dissolved nitrate and oxygen concentrations from all sites are linearly correlated with a NO₃^-/-O₂ ratio of -0.098 ± 0.005. The bestfit NO₃^-/-O₂ respiration ratios calculated by the one-zone model, assuming a constant respiration ratio in the entire sediment column at each site, are between 0.089 to 0.100. These ratios are indistinguishable from the Redfield NO₃^-/-O₂ ratio of 0.094 determined in the ocean. We also consider a model to determine whether the respiration ratio varies with depth. There is no clear indication that the respiration ratio varies with sediment depth. This indicates that sedimentary microbes utilize organic carbon and nitrogen with a C/N ratio that is indistinguishable from the Redfield ratio, even though the C/N ratio of the bulk organic matter might be different due to the preferential degradation. This might be controlled by the nutrient requirements of microbial communities.

Recommended Citation

Huang, Yiya, "THE NO₃^-/-O₂ RESPIRATION RATIO OF THE DEEP SEDIMENTARY BIOSPHERE IN THE PACIFIC GYRES" (2014). Open Access Master's Theses. Paper 288.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/theses/288