Dynamics of benthic organic matter fluxes in polar deep-ocean environments

DOMINO aims to link organic carbon fluxes to the seafloor of polar deep-sea environments to water column particle export and small scale to regional distributions of benthic fauna. It focuses benthic fluxes by the determination of benthic oxygen uptake, the spatial distribution of benthic particle input as well as its temporal dynamics. Comprising a carbon sink at the lower end of the ocean’s biological pump, such fluxes to the seafloor, play a key role in respect to natural as well as potential artificially induced CO₂ drawdown and sedimentary carbon fixation. However, the data set for Polar Regions and, particularly the Southern Ocean is still very limited. DOMINO not only aims to improve the data coverage by high quality in situ measurements but also fosters the multidisciplinary linkage to planktology, oceanography, and benthos biology: During the Polarstern cruise ANT XXIV/2 (27.11.2007-5.2.2008, first year of DOMINO), investigations on the bentho-pelagic coupling as well as on the interactions between geochemical microgradients and benthic organisms were conducted. Field results are analysed and ocean regions will be described in terms of deep carbon export under consideration of seasonal conditions and from the perspective of the ANDEEP bioregionalization approach. Tying on to the preciding SPP Project "Bipolar Benthic Flux Study", side investigations were performed during Arctic expeditions in order to achieve a bipolar comparison of such processes at the sediment-water interface. Furthermore DOMNO is closely linked to other IPY initiatives SYSTCO ANDEEP and SCACE.





Fig.1: Marine research at the limit.

Scientists

Dr. Eberhard J. Sauter,
Dr. Oliver Sachs
Alfred-Wegener-Institute Bremerhaven

Research areas

Southern Ocean (ANT XXI/4)

Publications

Klages M, Sauter E, Soltwedel T, 2009. New tools in response to new challenges, Biological studies in polar oceans : exploration of life in icy waters ; 35 research reports and reviews / Gotthilf and Irmtraut Hempel (ed.) Bremerhaven : Wirtschaftsverl. NW, Verl. für neue Wissenschaft, 267-274. hdl:10013/epic.33510

Sachs O, Sauter EJ, Schlüter M, Rutgers van der Loeff MM, Jerosch K, Holby O, 2009. Benthic organic carbon flux and oxygen penetration reflect different plankton provinces in the Southern Ocean, Deep-Sea Research Part I 56, pp. 1319-1335.

Gallucci F, Sauter E, Sachs O, Klages M, Soltwedel T, 2008. Caging experiment in the deep sea: efficiency and artefacts from a case study at the Arctic long-term observatory HAUSGARTEN, Journal of experimental marine biology and ecology. 354(1), 39-55.

Hoffmann F, Sauter E, Sachs O, Røy H, Klages M, 2007. Oxygen distribution in Tentorium semisuberites and in its habitat in the Arctic deep sea. In: Custódio M, Lôbo-Hajdu G, Hajdu E, Muricy G (eds) Porifera Research: Biodiversity, Innovation, Sustainability, Série Livros. Museu Nacional, Rio de Janeiro, 379-382.

Sachs O, 2008. Benthic organic carbon fluxes in the southern ocean : Regional differences and links to surface primary production and carbon export, Reports on Polar and Marine Research, 578, 158 pp., Bremen, Univ., PhD-Thesis.

Invited talks

Sauter EJ, Sachs O, 2010. Benthic organic carbon availability - regional patterns and temporal dynamics, Workshop on "Antarctic benthic biodiversity patterns" by CAML, CeDAMar and DFG, 21-25 March 2010, Wilhelmshaven, Germany. hdl:10013/epic.34603

Sachs O, Schlüter M, Sauter E J, 2008. In situ microsensor measurements and determination of benthic organic carbon fluxes in the Southern Ocean: Past - Present - Future, LOHAFEX Workshop, National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa, India, 10.-12. April 2008. hdl:10013/epic.30291

Sauter E, Sachs O, Schlüter M, Bathmann U, Strass V, Smetacek V, 2007. Rapid export and high benthic fluxes at the Antarctic Polar Front, Assessment and reporting colloquium of the DFG Priority Program “Antarctic research with comparative investigations in Arctic ice region”, Bremerhaven, 12-14 February 2007. hdl:10013/epic.26297

Talks

Peeken I, Sauter EJ, Sachs O, Schlüter M, Schwarz J, Assmy P, Bracher A, Bathmann U, 2010. Deep export of organic matter to the seafloor of the Southern Ocean - New insights into spatial variability and seasonal dynamics, International Polar Year Oslo Science Conference, 8-12 June 2010, Oslo. hdl:10013/epic.35693

Sauter E, 2009. New insights into spatial variability and seasonal dynamics of benthic organic carbon fluxes., SYSTCO Workshop 15./16.10.2009, Bremen. hdl:10013/epic.33630

Sachs O, Sauter EJ, Schlüter M, Rutgers van der Loeff MM, Jerosch K, Holby O, 2008. Relationships between benthic organic carbon flux, oxygen penetration, and plankton provinces in the Southern Ocean, ASLO Ocean Science Meeting, Orlando, Florida, USA, 02.-07. March 2008. hdl:10013/epic.27982

Sauter EJ, Sachs O, Schlueter M, Schwarz JN, Bathmann U, 2008. Dynamics of Benthic Organic Carbon Fluxes in the Southern Ocean, SCAR/IASC IPY Open Science Conference, St. Petersburg, Russia, July 8 -11, 2008. hdl:10013/epic.30449

Posters

Rabouille C, Soltwedel T, Cathalot C, Sauter E, Sachs O, Schewe I, Tengberg A, Klages M, 2011. Recycling of organic matter in Arctic marine sediments: investigations at the deep-sea long-term observatory HAUSGARTEN, Arctic Science Summit Week 2011, Seoul, Korea, 27.03.-01.04.2011. hdl:10013/epic.36740

Sauter EJ, Sachs O, Schlüter M, Rutgers van der Loeff MM, Jerosch K, Holby O, 2010. Regional Distribution of Benthic Organic Carbon Fluxes and Sediment Oxygenation in the Southern Ocean, International Polar Year Oslo Science Conference, 8-12 June 2010, Oslo. hdl:10013/epic.35692

Homepage

DOMINO

Research funding organisation

German Research Foundation

Project numbers: SA 1713/1
Funding period: Since August 2007