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