Particle production and transformation in the Eastern Tropical North
Pacific Oxygen Deficient Zone: a δ15N-amino acids’ perspective
Abstract
The eastern tropical North Pacific oxygen deficient zone (ETNP-ODZ)
exhibits a distinct physical and biological environment compared to
other oxygenated water columns, leading to a unique scenario of
particulate organic matter (POM) production and vertical transport. To
elucidate these biological pump processes, we present the first
comparison of δ¹⁵N values of nitrate, phenylalanine (Phe), and glutamic
acid (Glu) within two distinct size fractions of particles collected
along a productivity gradient in the ETNP-ODZ. Low δ¹⁵NPhe and δ¹⁵NGlu
values in both particle pools at the secondary chlorophyll maximum
(SCM), compared to the ambient δ¹⁵N-NO₃-, suggest the presence of
recycled N-utilizing primary producers distinct from those at the
primary chlorophyll maximum and their contribution to export. We
observed reduced ¹⁵N enrichment of Phe in suspended particles and a
narrower δ¹⁵NPhe disparity between the two particle size fractions
compared to the results from oxic waters, likely due to slower microbial
remineralization of suspended particles. Unique δ¹⁵NPhe and δ¹⁵NGlu
signatures of particles were found at the lower oxycline, potentially
attributable to chemoautotrophic production and zooplankton mediation.
These findings underscore the need for further investigations targeting
particles generated at the SCM, their subsequent alteration by
zooplankton, and the new production by chemoautotrophs. This will allow
for a better evaluation of the efficiency of the biological pump in the
expanding ODZs.