STANDING STOCKS OF PARTICULATE CARBON AND NITROGEN IN THE EQUATORIAL PACIFIC AT 150-DEGREES-W

In March 1988 a north-south transect at longitude 150-degrees-W was carried out in the equatorial Pacific between latitude 15-degrees-N and 15-degrees-S. Observations of suspended particulate matter in the euphotic zone included particulate carbon, nitrogen, and chlorophyll, with a few samples taken for counting picoplankton and nanoplankton. Nearly all the particulate nitrogen is accounted for by bacteria and phytoplankton. The standing stock of bacterial C and N exceeded that of phytoplankton. The residence time of particulate organic carbon in the surface water was only 4-5 days in the equatorial upwelling, but 10-15 days to the north and south, suggesting relatively rapid removal by recycling and lateral advection.