Urea distribution and uptake in the Atlantic Ocean between 50° N and 50°S.

Painter, Stuart C.; Sanders, Richard ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6884-7131; Waldron, Howard N.; Lucas, Michael I.; Torres-Valdes, Sinhue. 2008 Urea distribution and uptake in the Atlantic Ocean between 50° N and 50°S. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 368. 53-63. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps07586

Full text not available from this repository.

Official URL: http://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v368/p53-63/

Abstract/Summary

We investigate the distribution of urea and its uptake by phytoplankton during 3 meridional transects of the Atlantic Ocean between 50°N and 50° S. Significant relationships were identified between urea uptake and Prochlorococcus abundance (p < 0.01) in the northern subtropical Atlantic, where Prochlorococcus appears likely to dominate urea uptake, and between urea concentration and the <200 µm microplankton biomass fraction (p < 0.005) in the South Atlantic, which may be associated with the production of urea. These results suggest that the distribution of urea in the subtropical ocean may be controlled by regional imbalances between urea consumption and urea production. In parallel with these simple relationships significant spring-autumn seasonal changes in the distribution of urea were identified in southern subtropical and tropical latitudes. Urea was twice as abundant during local spring than during local autumn in the subtropical South Atlantic but 2.5 times more abundant in equatorial waters during the boreal autumn period. Euphotic zone integrated urea uptake rates also varied seasonally, being considerably higher in the North Atlantic temperate and subtropical latitudes during the boreal spring whilst in the subtropical South Atlantic urea uptake peaked in local autumn.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.3354/meps07586
ISSN:	0171-8630
Additional Keywords:	Urea concentration, Prochlorococcus, Seasonal variability, Atlantic Meridional Transect · Urea uptake
Date made live:	22 Oct 2008 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/163641

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.3354/meps07586

ISSN:

0171-8630

Additional Keywords:

Urea concentration, Prochlorococcus, Seasonal variability, Atlantic Meridional Transect · Urea uptake

Date made live:

22 Oct 2008 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/163641