BIOSEDIMENTATION OF PARTICULATE ORGANIC MATTER AND ORGANOCHLORINE HYDROCARBON FLUXES IN THE BERING SEA

A. V. Tsyban and S. A. Mosharov

The formation of the particulate organic matter (POM) fluxes from the surface water layer in different regions of the Bering Sea is considered. Based on the results of long-term investigations, the authors studied the conjugation of primary production formation and biosedimentation directly in an active zone of the sea and showed an interannual dynamics of these most important ecological pro¬cesses over 12 years. The increased total level of the primary production was accompanied by the increased POM fluxes from the surface layer averaging 3.2 g/(m2 × day). The role of biosedimentation in the removal of pollutants from the sea surface layer is discussed. The rate of biogenic particle deposition and the relation between the dissolved and suspended forms of toxicants are of great importance for assessing the pollutant removal from the euphotic layer. This makes it possible to determine the share of biosedimentation processes in total pollution in the layer.