Marine Ecology - The Carbon Cycle in the Ocean.pptx

A Powerpoint about the Carbon Cycle in Marine Ecology

1. Carbon Cycle

2. The Biological Carbon Pump The Biological Carbon Pump is a component of the Carbon Cycle The biological carbon pump takes place in aquatic environments CO 2 is absorbed by phytoplankton to be used in photosynthesis and the carbon itself becomes stored in the phytoplankton The phytoplankton are either eaten by zooplankton/predators or sink to the bottom of their environment and decompose, where they release CO 2 Aquatic organisms also undergo respiration, which releases CO 2 into the water

3. Focusing In: Photosynthesis 6CO 2 +6H 2 0+Sunlight→6O 2 +C 6 H 12 O 6 Phytoplankton perform photosynthesis, which is responsible for removing 30-50% of the atmospheric carbon dioxide Photosynthesis in turn produces oxygen that is released back into the atmosphere and the carbon is stored by phytoplankton in the form of glucose

4. Focusing In: Respiration 6O 2 +C 6 H 12 O 6 →6CO 2 +6H 2 0+Heat All marine organisms perform respiration, which produces CO 2 and releases it back into the water or atmosphere Respiration is the process that fuels the daily processes of organisms and does so by breaking down glucose and oxygen

5. Focusing In: Remineralization Remineralization is the dissolving of CO 2 back into a water body Remineralization in surface waters allow for easy release of CO 2 back into the atmosphere Remineralization at deeper depths allows the water body to retain the CO 2 in dissolved form, thus allowing for the oceans to successfully pump net CO 2 out of the atmosphere As phytoplankton sink, die, and decompose, they release CO 2 and other minerals at these deeper depths Most of these minerals are transported back to the surface via upwelling, but some can remain trapped at the ocean floor for thousands of years

6. Contributions to Ocean Acidification While the Biological Carbon Pump is key to removing CO 2 from the atmosphere, it is contributing to ocean acidification as well Increased CO 2 levels in the ocean react with water to form bicarbonate, carbonate, and H + ions Increased H + ion concentration leads to lower pH in the ocean Ocean acidification has harmful effects on organisms that use bicarbonate and carbonate to form shells and survive