Carbon remineralization rates in marine sediments beneath areas of high and low primary productivity in the Galapagos Archipelago

Abstract

This study was carried out in the Galapagos Islands in January 2006 to determine sedimentary carbon remineralization rates and compare them among regions of differing chlorophyll a concentrations and rates of primary production (photosynthesis). Relatively high rates of carbon remineralization, and correspondingly shallow oxygen penetration depths, were expected underlying areas of greater primary production. It was found that sediments beneath regions of relatively high primary production exhibited higher carbon remineralization rates and correspondingly shallower oxygen penetration depths than sediments beneath regions of low primary production, as hypothesized.