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Climate, carbon cycling, and deep-ocean ecosystems

K. L. Smith Jr, H. A. Ruhl, B. J. Bett, D. S. M. Billett, R. S. Lampitt, and R. S. Kaufmann
PNAS November 17, 2009 106 (46) 19211-19218; https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0908322106
K. L. Smith Jr
aMonterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, 7700 Sandholdt Road, Moss Landing, CA 95039;
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  • For correspondence: ksmith@mbari.org
H. A. Ruhl
bOcean Biogeochemistry and Ecosystems Group, National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, United Kingdom; and
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B. J. Bett
bOcean Biogeochemistry and Ecosystems Group, National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, United Kingdom; and
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D. S. M. Billett
bOcean Biogeochemistry and Ecosystems Group, National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, United Kingdom; and
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R. S. Lampitt
bOcean Biogeochemistry and Ecosystems Group, National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, United Kingdom; and
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R. S. Kaufmann
cMarine Science and Environmental Studies Department, University of San Diego, 5998 Alcalá Park, San Diego, CA 92110
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  1. Edited by David M. Karl, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, and approved October 2, 2009 (received for review July 29, 2009)

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Abstract

Climate variation affects surface ocean processes and the production of organic carbon, which ultimately comprises the primary food supply to the deep-sea ecosystems that occupy ≈60% of the Earth's surface. Warming trends in atmospheric and upper ocean temperatures, attributed to anthropogenic influence, have occurred over the past four decades. Changes in upper ocean temperature influence stratification and can affect the availability of nutrients for phytoplankton production. Global warming has been predicted to intensify stratification and reduce vertical mixing. Research also suggests that such reduced mixing will enhance variability in primary production and carbon export flux to the deep sea. The dependence of deep-sea communities on surface water production has raised important questions about how climate change will affect carbon cycling and deep-ocean ecosystem function. Recently, unprecedented time-series studies conducted over the past two decades in the North Pacific and the North Atlantic at >4,000-m depth have revealed unexpectedly large changes in deep-ocean ecosystems significantly correlated to climate-driven changes in the surface ocean that can impact the global carbon cycle. Climate-driven variation affects oceanic communities from surface waters to the much-overlooked deep sea and will have impacts on the global carbon cycle. Data from these two widely separated areas of the deep ocean provide compelling evidence that changes in climate can readily influence deep-sea processes. However, the limited geographic coverage of these existing time-series studies stresses the importance of developing a more global effort to monitor deep-sea ecosystems under modern conditions of rapidly changing climate.

Footnotes

  • ↵1To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: ksmith{at}mbari.org
  • Author contributions: K.L.S. and H.A.R. designed research; K.L.S., H.A.R., B.J.B., D.S.M.B., R.S.L., and R.S.K. performed research; K.L.S., H.A.R., B.J.B., D.S.M.B., R.S.L., and R.S.K. analyzed data; and K.L.S., H.A.R., B.J.B., D.S.M.B., R.S.L., and R.S.K. wrote the paper.

  • The authors declare no conflict of interest.

  • This article is a PNAS Direct Submission.

  • Received July 29, 2009.
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Climate, carbon cycling, and deep-ocean ecosystems
K. L. Smith, H. A. Ruhl, B. J. Bett, D. S. M. Billett, R. S. Lampitt, R. S. Kaufmann
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Nov 2009, 106 (46) 19211-19218; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0908322106

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Climate, carbon cycling, and deep-ocean ecosystems
K. L. Smith, H. A. Ruhl, B. J. Bett, D. S. M. Billett, R. S. Lampitt, R. S. Kaufmann
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Nov 2009, 106 (46) 19211-19218; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0908322106
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