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Seafloor ecosystem functioning: the importance of organic matter priming
Van Nugteren, P.; Moodley, L.; Brummer, G.-J.; Heip, C.H.R.; Herman, P.M. J.; Middelburg, J.J. (2009). Seafloor ecosystem functioning: the importance of organic matter priming. Mar. Biol. (Berl.) 156(11): 2277-2287. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00227-009-1255-5
In: Marine Biology: International Journal on Life in Oceans and Coastal Waters. Springer: Heidelberg; Berlin. ISSN 0025-3162; e-ISSN 1432-1793, more
Peer reviewed article  
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Keyword
    Marine/Coastal
Authors  Top 
  • Van Nugteren, P.
  • Moodley, L.
  • Brummer, G.-J.
  • Heip, C.H.R., more
  • Herman, P.M. J.
  • Middelburg, J.J., more
Abstract
    Organic matter (OM) remineralization may be considered a key function of the benthic compartment of marine ecosystems and in this study we investigated if the input of labile organic carbon alters mineralization of indigenous sediment OM (OM priming). Using 13C-enriched diatoms as labile tracer carbon, we examined shallowwater sediments (surface and subsurface layers) containing organic carbon of different reactivity under oxic versus anoxic conditions. The background OM decomposition rates of the sediment used ranged from 0.08 to 0.44 µmol C mlws-1 day-1. Algal OM additions induced enhanced levels of background remineralization (priming) up to 31% and these measured excess fluxes were similar to mineralization of the added highly degradable tracer algal carbon. This suggests that OM priming may be important in marine sediments.
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