Marine biogeochemical cyclesMarine biogeochemical cycles are biogeochemical cycles that occur within marine environments, that is, in the saltwater of seas or oceans or the brackish water of coastal estuaries. These biogeochemical cycles are the pathways chemical substances and elements move through within the marine environment. In addition, substances and elements can be imported into or exported from the marine environment. These imports and exports can occur as exchanges with the atmosphere above, the ocean floor below, or as runoff from the land.
Planctonthumb|250px|right|Les diatomées sont une des bases des réseaux trophiques océaniques et d'eau douce. Certaines sont considérées comme bioindicatrices de la qualité de l'eau. thumb|250px|right|Zooplancton. Selon Hensen (1887), le plancton (du grec ancien , « errant, instable ») est un groupe polyphylétique d'organismes généralement unicellulaires vivant dans les eaux douces, saumâtres et salées, le plus souvent en suspension et apparemment passivement : gamètes, larves, animaux inaptes à lutter contre le courant (petits crustacés planctoniques, siphonophores et méduses), végétaux et algues microscopiques.
Marine microorganismsMarine microorganisms are defined by their habitat as microorganisms living in a marine environment, that is, in the saltwater of a sea or ocean or the brackish water of a coastal estuary. A microorganism (or microbe) is any microscopic living organism or virus, that is too small to see with the unaided human eye without magnification. Microorganisms are very diverse. They can be single-celled or multicellular and include bacteria, archaea, viruses and most protozoa, as well as some fungi, algae, and animals, such as rotifers and copepods.
Cycle biogéochimiqueUn cycle biogéochimique est le processus de transport et de transformation cyclique (recyclage) d'un élément ou composé chimique entre les grands réservoirs que sont la géosphère, l'atmosphère, l'hydrosphère, dans lesquels se retrouve la biosphère. Un tel cycle induit souvent des passages de l'état organique à l'état minéral au sein de la biosphère. Les divers cycles en interaction confèrent à la biosphère une capacité de régulation, appelée homéostasie.
Biogéochimievignette|Biogeochimie La biogéochimie est l'étude du processus cyclique de transfert des éléments chimiques de l'environnement à partir des milieux abiotiques vers les organismes qui à leur tour retransmettent ses constituants à l'environnement. (Traduction française de l'article d'Odum, 1971) Cette notion a été « inventée » par le savant russe Vladimir Vernadski. Différentes analyses moléculaires permettent de qualifier le caractère biogéochimique de la matière organique comme l'analyse des sucres, des lipides, des phénols de la lignine.
ZooplanctonLe zooplancton (du grec ancien , « animal ») est un plancton animal. Il se nourrit de matière vivante, certaines espèces étant herbivores et d’autres carnivores. Il descend pendant la nuit vers des eaux plus profondes, et remonte pendant la journée vers la surface, pour se nourrir de phytoplancton attiré par la lumière. Ce mouvement du zooplancton (dit de migration verticale quotidienne) suit un rythme nycthéméral commandé par la lumière du Soleil.
Iron fertilizationIron fertilization is the intentional introduction of iron to iron-poor areas of the ocean surface to stimulate phytoplankton production. This is intended to enhance biological productivity and/or accelerate carbon dioxide () sequestration from the atmosphere. Iron is a trace element necessary for photosynthesis in plants. It is highly insoluble in sea water and in a variety of locations is the limiting nutrient for phytoplankton growth. Large algal blooms can be created by supplying iron to iron-deficient ocean waters.
Ocean surface ecosystemOrganisms that live freely at the ocean surface, termed neuston, include keystone organisms like the golden seaweed Sargassum that makes up the Sargasso Sea, floating barnacles, marine snails, nudibranchs, and cnidarians. Many ecologically and economically important fish species live as or rely upon neuston. Species at the surface are not distributed uniformly; the ocean's surface harbours unique neustonic communities and ecoregions found at only certain latitudes and only in specific ocean basins.
Marine primary productionMarine primary production is the chemical synthesis in the ocean of organic compounds from atmospheric or dissolved carbon dioxide. It principally occurs through the process of photosynthesis, which uses light as its source of energy, but it also occurs through chemosynthesis, which uses the oxidation or reduction of inorganic chemical compounds as its source of energy. Almost all life on Earth relies directly or indirectly on primary production. The organisms responsible for primary production are called primary producers or autotrophs.
Marine ecosystemMarine ecosystems are the largest of Earth's aquatic ecosystems and exist in waters that have a high salt content. These systems contrast with freshwater ecosystems, which have a lower salt content. Marine waters cover more than 70% of the surface of the Earth and account for more than 97% of Earth's water supply and 90% of habitable space on Earth. Seawater has an average salinity of 35 parts per thousand of water. Actual salinity varies among different marine ecosystems.
