The role of phytoplankton photosynthesis in global biogeochemical cycles
@article{Falkowski2004TheRO, title={The role of phytoplankton photosynthesis in global biogeochemical cycles}, author={Paul G. Falkowski}, journal={Photosynthesis Research}, year={2004}, volume={39}, pages={235-258} }
Phytoplankton biomass in the world's oceans amounts to only ∽1–2% of the total global plant carbon, yet these organisms fix between 30 and 50 billion metric tons of carbon annually, which is about 40% of the total. On geological time scales there is profound evidence of the importance of phytoplankton photosynthesis in biogeochemical cycles. It is generally assumed that present phytoplankton productivity is in a quasi steady-state (on the time scale of decades). However, in a global context…
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