The Biological PumpThe Biological Pump
• The biological pump is the process by which The biological pump is the process by which CO2 fixed in photosynthesis is transferred to CO2 fixed in photosynthesis is transferred to the ocean interior resulting in a temporary or the ocean interior resulting in a temporary or permanent sequestration (storage) of carbon.permanent sequestration (storage) of carbon.
• This biogeochemical process involving This biogeochemical process involving phytoplankton, the animals that consume phytoplankton, the animals that consume them, and the bacteria that assimilate their them, and the bacteria that assimilate their waste plays a central role in the global waste plays a central role in the global carbon cycle.carbon cycle.
• Web resource: Web resource: http://www.msrc.sunysb.edu/octet/biological_pump.htmlhttp://www.msrc.sunysb.edu/octet/biological_pump.html
• This slideshow will take you through This slideshow will take you through the steps of the biological pump.the steps of the biological pump.
The Biological PumpThe Biological Pump
• Carbon dioxide is removed from the Carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere by atmosphere by producers producers that use that use COCO22, sunlight and nutrients to make , sunlight and nutrients to make food through the process of food through the process of photosynthesisphotosynthesis..
PhotosynthesisPhotosynthesis
COCO
22
Phytoplankton
Photosynthesis
• Some COSome CO22 is then released back into is then released back into the water through the water through respirationrespiration as the as the phytoplankton break down their food phytoplankton break down their food to release energy.to release energy.
RespirationRespiration
COCO
22
Phytoplankton
Respiration
Photosynthesis
• Some of the carbon is passed on to Some of the carbon is passed on to primary primary consumersconsumers: zooplankton and : zooplankton and other filter feeders that depend on other filter feeders that depend on phytoplankton for their energy.phytoplankton for their energy.
ConsumptionConsumption
COCO
22
Phytoplankton
Zooplankton
Consumption
Respiration
Photosynthesis
• Bacteria play a vital role in the biological Bacteria play a vital role in the biological
pump by pump by decomposingdecomposing organic particles organic particles
such as waste products and dead such as waste products and dead
organisms that sink to the deep sea organisms that sink to the deep sea
(Aerobic decomposition releases CO(Aerobic decomposition releases CO22). In ). In
the upper oceans, bacteria can actually the upper oceans, bacteria can actually
weaken the biological pump by reducing weaken the biological pump by reducing
particulate flow to the deep.particulate flow to the deep.
DecompositionDecomposition
COCO
22
Phytoplankton
Zooplankton
Bacteria
Consumption
Deco
mpositi
on
Respiration
Photosynthesis
• Consumption continues to transport Consumption continues to transport carbon through higher trophic levels.carbon through higher trophic levels.
Higher Trophic LevelsHigher Trophic Levels
COCO
22
COCO
22
Phytoplankton
Zooplankton
Higher LevelConsumers
Bacteria
Consumption
Consumption
Deco
mpositi
on
Decomposition
Resp
iratio
n
Respiration
Photosynthesis
• The process continues…The process continues…
Higher Trophic LevelsHigher Trophic Levels
COCO
22
COCO
22
COCO
22
Phytoplankton
Zooplankton
Higher LevelConsumers
Bacteria
Consumption
Consumption
Deco
mpositi
on
Decomposition
Resp
iratio
n
Resp
iratio
n
Respiration
Photosynthesis
• As bacteria break down organic As bacteria break down organic
matter, the COmatter, the CO22 that is not that is not
remineralizedremineralized is stored in the deep- is stored in the deep-
ocean sediments. ocean sediments.
RemineralizationRemineralization
COCO
22
COCO
22
COCO
22
Phytoplankton
Zooplankton
Higher LevelConsumers
Bacteria
COCO
22
Consumption
Consumption
Deco
mpositi
on
Decomposition
Remineralization
Resp
iratio
n
Resp
iratio
n
Respiration
Photosynthesis
COCO
22
COCO
22
COCO
22
Phytoplankton
Zooplankton
Higher LevelConsumers
Bacteria
COCO
22
Consumption
Consumption
Deco
mpositi
on
Decomposition
Remineralization
Resp
iratio
n
Resp
iratio
n
Respiration
Photosynthesis
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