MEPS 334:37-45 (2007)  -  doi:10.3354/meps334037

ABSTRACT: The community metabolism of a shallow infralittoral ecosystem dominated by the calcareous macroalgae Corallina elongata was investigated in Marseilles (NW Mediterranean), by monitoring hourly changes of seawater pH and total alkalinity over 6 d in February 2000. Fair weather conditions prevailed over the study period as indicated by oceanographic (temperature, salinity, and current velocity and direction) and meteorological variables, which validated the standing water hypothesis. This temperate ecosystem exhibited high community gross primary production (GPP = 519 ± 106 mmol C m^–2 d^–1, n = 6) and also supported high rates of community respiration (R). As a result, the system was slightly autotrophic (net community production, NCP = 20 mmol C m^–2 d^–1), with a GPP/R ratio of 1.06. NCP exhibited circadian variations with 2- to 3-fold changes in community respiration, both in the light and in the dark. Rates of net community calcification also exhibited circadian variations, with positive rates (up to 24 mmol CaCO₃ m^–2 h^–1) for irradiance values >300 W m^–2 (about 1380 µmol photon m^–2 s^–1). Below this irradiance threshold, net community dissolution prevailed. Daily net calcification (G) was on average 8 mmol CaCO₃ m^–2 d^–1. CO₂ fluxes generated by primary production, respiration, and calcification suggest that the study site was a potential atmospheric CO₂ sink of 15 mmol CO₂ m^–2 d^–1 at the time of measurement.

KEY WORDS: Ecosystem metabolism · Primary production · Respiration · Calcification · Calcareous macroalgae · Corallina elongata · pH · Total alkalinity · TA