Relationships between electron transport system (ETS) activity and particulate organic matter features in three areas of the Ross Sea (Antarctica)

Electron transport system activity (ETSa) and particulate organic matter (POM) concentrations and composition were measured in three areas of the continental shelf of the Ross Sea during summer 2014, in the framework of the Ross Sea Mesoscale Experiment (ROME) project. We aimed at testing whether in the epipelagic layer (0-200 m) ETS showed different activity depending on the geographical position and on the different hydrological structures that characterised each area, as eddy and fronts, and whether the ETSa of the microplanktonic fraction depended on POM quantitative and qualitative features. ETSa showed differences between the three areas, but within each of them the different hydrological conditions did not influence significantly the respiration activity. ETSa displayed significant correlations with POM, especially in the offshore areas characterised by residual ice influence and by a mesoscale eddy structure. In these zones ETSa was enhanced by good trophic value of POM, i.e. showing dominance of proteins and PON over structural carbohydrates and POC, respectively. The role of the phytoplanktonic fraction in ETSa was higher in the eddy-influenced area, that showed significantly higher chlorophyll-a concentrations. On the other hand, in the area placed coastward, the relationships between ETSa and POM changed. High ETSa were found in the subsurface layer and down to 100 m depth and were related to more refractory POM, whose utilization would require higher energy. Different ETSa-POM relationships were consistent with the anomalous phytoplanktonic bloom detected in the coastward area, characterised by Phaeocystis. Thus, the anomalies of the primary producers are reflected by changes in POM respiration and potential C utilization.