Consider the following statements about Marine Primary Productivity: ...
- Marine Primary Productivity: The highest rates of primary production are concentrated along the margins of continents over continental shelves and in areas of upwelling. Along continental margins nutrients are renewed by runoff from the land and by biological or physical disturbance of bottom sediments.
- Meanwhile, the central portions of the major oceans show low levels of nutrient availability and low rates of primary production. The main source of nutrient renewal in the surface waters of the open ocean is vertical mixing.
- Vertical mixing is generally blocked in open tropical oceans by a permanent thermocline. Consequently, the surface waters of open tropical oceans contain very low concentrations of nutrients and show some of the lowest rates of marine primary production.
Consider the following statements about Marine Primary Productivity: ...
Explanation:
Marine primary productivity refers to the rate at which marine organisms, such as phytoplankton, produce organic matter through photosynthesis. It is an important process that supports the overall marine food web and is influenced by various factors, including nutrient availability and mixing.
Statement 1: Highest levels of primary productivity in marine areas are seen in open oceans.
- This statement is incorrect.
- While open oceans cover a large portion of the Earth's surface, they are generally considered to have lower levels of primary productivity compared to areas such as coastal zones and upwelling regions.
- This is because open oceans have lower nutrient concentrations, particularly in surface waters, which limits the growth of primary producers.
- Coastal zones and upwelling regions, on the other hand, experience nutrient enrichment through processes such as river runoff and vertical mixing, which can lead to higher levels of primary productivity.
Statement 2: Main source of nutrient renewal in the surface waters of the open ocean is vertical mixing.
- This statement is correct.
- Vertical mixing refers to the process by which water from deeper layers of the ocean is transported to the surface.
- This mixing brings nutrients, such as nitrate and phosphate, from the deeper layers where they accumulate to the surface waters where primary producers can utilize them for photosynthesis.
- This vertical mixing can occur through various mechanisms, including wind-driven upwelling, turbulence caused by tidal currents, and thermohaline circulation.
- These processes play a crucial role in renewing nutrients in the surface waters of the open ocean and supporting primary productivity.
Conclusion:
Considering both statements, only statement 2 is correct. The highest levels of primary productivity in marine areas are typically seen in coastal zones and upwelling regions, rather than open oceans. However, vertical mixing is indeed the main source of nutrient renewal in the surface waters of the open ocean.