Major outputs of the recent multidisciplinary biogeochemical researches undertaken in the Aegean Sea

Abstract

The main outputs of a multidisciplinary and integrated studies are summarised. The results incorporate the latest biogeochemical researches, at basin scale, in the Aegean Sea (including thermohaline circulation studies, SPM dynamics, mass and energy fluxes, acknowledge biochemical processes in the euphotic and the benthic layer and benthic response to downward fluxes). The data were acquired within five (seasonal) research cruises, during 1997–1998. Data analysis and evaluation hence provided important new information on the functional processes of the Aegean ecosystem. In terms of water circulation, no new deep water formation in the Aegean Sea was observed, during 1997–1998, but rather intermediate water, due mainly to the mild winter conditions. All the biochemical parameters of the euphotic zone (nutrients, Particulate Organic Carbon (POC), chlorophyll- a, phytoplankton, primary and bacterial production), although high in the N. Aegean Sea reflect clearly the highly oligotrophic character of the Aegean Sea. In the N. Aegean, microbial food web was the main pathway of carbon, whereas in the S. Aegean, the food web could be classified as multivorous. An important Black Sea Water (BSW) signal was observed in the dissolved phase; this was especially pronounced in the Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC), Mn and to a lesser degree to Cd, Cu and Ni concentrations. The downward material fluxes are higher in the N. Aegean, relative to the S. Aegean. Substantially higher values of near-bottom mass fluxes were measured in the deep basins of the N. Aegean, implying significant deep lateral fluxes of POM. The N. Aegean could be classified as a “continental margin” ecosystem, whilst the S. Aegean is a typical “oceanic margin” environment. There is a close relationship and, consequently, coupling between the near-bottom mass fluxes and the accumulation rates of organic matter (OM), with the near-bottom mineralisation, bioturbation, redox potential, oxygen consumption rates, the sediment microbiological and enzymatic activity and the meio-macro- and mega fauna abundances in the Aegean Sea. The N. Aegean is characterised by higher fluxes of labile POC and higher rates of benthic mineralisation and displays much higher benthic productivity and diversity relatively to the S. Aegean. The deep isolated N. Aegean basins should be regarded as “hot spots” of organic matter accumulation, benthic abundances and diversity. There is a general N–S gradient in the biogeochemical and benthic processes in the Aegean that is especially pronounced during winter–early spring, implied mainly by the of Black Sea Water (BSW) inflow (through the dissolved phase) and the lateral marginal inputs.