Biogeochemistry from the Oligotrophic to the Ultra oligotrophic Mediterranean Sea (BOUM)

These distinct systems represent, at a regional scale, the main oceanographic features of contrasting environments found in the oligotrophic ocean. We will determine whether organic matter production, remineralization and export processes are longitudinally different and if so, study how these differences are related to the structure of the planktonic community.

We will focus on several questions of current interest concerning the coupling/uncoupling between carbon and nutrient (N,P,Si,Fe) delivery and removal processes which are controlling planktonic community structures and function and, ultimately, the ability of the ocean to sequester carbon. We shall describe the functioning of each distinct ecosystem under physical conditions as stationary as possible, and finally, from experimental and modelling approaches, examine the responses of the systems to perturbations, i.e. pulsed nutrient addition.