What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate whether persistent microscale chemical gradients and low-oxygen microenvironments can exist around marine snow and fecal pellets amidst fluid movement in the pelagic ocean.

February 6, 1987Science

Can Microscale Chemical Patches Persist in the Sea? Microelectrode Study of Marine Snow, Fecal Pellets

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Authors

AAAlice L. AlldredgeUniversity of California, Santa Barbara YCYehuda CohenNanyang Technological University

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Implication

Microelectrode study reveals persistent oxygen and pH gradients around marine snow and fecal pellets, suggesting microscale zones support anaerobic processes in the ocean.

Key Points

To evaluate whether persistent microscale chemical gradients and low-oxygen microenvironments can exist around marine snow and fecal pellets amidst fluid movement in the pelagic ocean.
Used microelectrode sensors to profile oxygen and pH gradients inside and around macroscopic marine snow particles and fecal pellets.
Assessed gradient persistence and boundary layer thickness under dark conditions and during fluid advection past the sinking particles.
Oxygen was continuously and partially depleted around marine snow in the dark, with complete anoxia observed within large fecal pellets.
Fluid-resistant boundary layers hundreds of micrometers thick persisted despite advection, sustaining millimeter-scale microhabitats that permit low-oxygen processes such as denitrification.

Cite This Study

Alldredge et al. (1987) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69db2c4c5b363cdf1c8358ae https://doi.org/10.1126/science.235.4789.689

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Implication

Microelectrode study reveals persistent oxygen and pH gradients around marine snow and fecal pellets, suggesting microscale zones support anaerobic processes in the ocean.

Can Microscale Chemical Patches Persist in the Sea? Microelectrode Study of Marine Snow, Fecal Pellets

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Can Microscale Chemical Patches Persist in the Sea? Microelectrode Study of Marine Snow, Fecal Pellets

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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