Abundance and size distribution of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) in a coccolithophorid bloom in the northern Bay of Biscay
Harlay, J.; De Bodt, C.; Engel, A.; Jansen, S.; d'Hoop, Q.; Piontek, J.; Van Oostende, N.; Groom, S.; Sabbe, K.; Chou, L. (2009). Abundance and size distribution of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) in a coccolithophorid bloom in the northern Bay of Biscay. Deep-Sea Res., Part 1, Oceanogr. Res. Pap. 56(8): 1251-1265. dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2009.01.014 In: Deep-Sea Research, Part I. Oceanographic Research Papers. Elsevier: Oxford. ISSN 0967-0637; e-ISSN 1879-0119, more |  |
| Keywords | Prymnesiophyceae [WoRMS]
Marine/Coastal | | Author keywords | TEP; Carbon; Coccolithophores; North Atlantic Ocean |
| Authors | | Top | - Harlay, J., more
- De Bodt, C., more
- Engel, A.
- Jansen, S.
| - d'Hoop, Q., more
- Piontek, J.
- Van Oostende, N., more
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| Abstract | The distribution of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) was investigated during a coccolithophorid bloom in the northern Bay of Biscay (North Atlantic Ocean) in early June 2006. MODIS chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) and reflectance images before and during the cruise were used to localize areas of important biological activity and high reflectance (HR). TEP profiles along the continental margin, determined using microscopic (TEPmicro) and colorimetric (TEPcolor) methods, showed abundant (6.1×106–4.4×107 L-1) and relatively small (0.5–20 µm) particles, leading to a low total volume fraction (0.05–2.2 ppm) of TEPmicro and similar vertical profiles of TEPcolor. Estimates of carbon content in TEP (TEP-C) derived from the microscopic approach yielded surface concentration of 1.50 µmol C L-1. The contribution of TEP-C to particulate organic carbon (POC) was estimated to be 12% (molar C ratio) during this survey. Our results suggest that TEP formation is a probable first step to rapid and efficient export of C during declining coccolithophorid blooms. |
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