During the CARIACO time series program, microbial standing stocks, bacterial production, and acetate turnover were consistently elevated in the redox transition zone (RTZ) of the Cariaco Basin, the depth interval (ϳ240-450 m) of steepest gradient in oxidation-reduction potential. Anomalously high fluxes of particulate carbon were captured in sediment traps below this zone (455 m) in 16 of 71 observations. Here we present new evidence that bacterial chemoautotrophy, fueled by reduced sulfur species, supports an active secondary microbial food web in the RTZ and is potentially a large midwater source of labile, chemically unique, sedimenting biogenic debris to the basin's interior. Dissolved inorganic carbon assimilation (27-159 mmol C m Ϫ2 d Ϫ1 ) in this zone was equivalent to 10%-333% of contemporaneous primary production, depending on the season. However, vertical diffusion rates to the RTZ of electron donors and electron acceptors were inadequate to support this production. Therefore, significant lateral intrusions of oxic waters, mixing processes, or intensive cycling of C, S, N, Mn, and Fe across the RTZ are necessary to balance electron equivalents. Chemoautotrophic production appears to be decoupled temporally from short-term surface processes, such as seasonal upwelling and blooms, and potentially is more responsive to longterm changes in surface productivity and deep-water ventilation on interannual to decadal timescales. Findings suggest that midwater production of organic carbon may contribute a unique signature to the basin's sediment record, thereby altering its paleoclimatological interpretation.

at 1225 m, with no seasonality in the proportion of vertical flux to primary production. In total, between 10 and 11 gC m -2 yr-*were delivered to the bottom sediment of Cariaco, which suggests that between 4 x l0 s and 1 x 10 6 t of C yr -• were delivered to sediments within the upwelling area of the Cariaco Basin. This represents permanent sequestration of carbon previously entrained in the North Atlantic gyre in the area of formation of SUW. Results suggests that upwelled inorganic nitrogen, rather than nitrogen fixation, is responsible for the large productivity and particulate carbon settling flux in the Cariaco Basin.

I show that the growth of Trichodesmium, the primary diazotrophic phytoplankton in tropical and subtropical oceans, can be limited by Ni availability in both trace metal-defined culture media and natural seawater when the supply of Fe and P is sufficient. I further show that the increase of Ni concentrations elevates cellular superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and nitrogen fixation rates, suggesting that NiSOD may be involved in the protection of nitrogenase from superoxide inhibition during photosynthesis in this nonheterocystous diazotroph.

Abstract. Recent studies have demonstrated atmospheric deposition as an important source of bioreactive compounds to the ocean. The South China Sea (SCS), where aerosol loading is among the highest in the world, however, is poorly studied, particularly on the in situ response of phytoplankton community structures to atmospheric deposition. By conducting a series of microcosm bioassays at different hydrographical locations and simulating different aerosol event scales, we observed both positive and negative responses to the input of East Asian (EA) aerosol with high nitrogen (N) and trace metal contents, in terms of biomass, composition and physiological characteristics of phytoplankton communities. High levels of aerosol loading relieved phytoplankton nitrogen and trace metal limitations in SCS, and thus increased total phytoplankton biomass, enhanced their physiological indicators (e.g. photosynthetic efficiency) and shifted phytoplankton assemblages from being dominated by picoplankton to microphytoplanton, especially diatoms. However, under low levels of aerosol loading, the composition shift and biomass accumulation were not apparent, suggesting that the stimulation effects might be counterbalanced by enhanced grazing mortality indicated by increased abundance of protist grazers. Trace metal toxicity of the aerosols might also be the reason for the reduction of picocyanobacteria when amended with high EA aerosols. The magnitude and duration of the deposition event, as well as the hydrographical and trophic conditions of receiving waters are also important factors when predicting the influence of an aerosol deposition event. Our results demonstrated different responses of phytoplankton and microbial food web dynamics to different scales of atmospheric input events in SCS and highlighted the need for achieving an accurate comprehension of atmospheric nutrient on the biogeochemical cycles of the oceans.

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