Silicon cycle, biogeochemical

An important part of the global biogeochemical silicon cycle involves biogenic silicon removal from ocean water by eukaryotic microorganisms such as diatoms, sponges, and radiolaria. It has been suggested in the literature that organic-silicon... 

Yool, A., and Tyrrel, T. (2003). Role of diatoms in regulating the ocean s silicon cycle. Global Biogeochem. Cycles 17, 1103, doi 1110.1029/2002GB002018. 

Fig. 12.15 Simplified structure and flux rates of the marine silicon cycle as resulting from the application of a prognostic, coupled water column-sediment, global biogeochemical ocean general circulation model. For comparison, flux values given in brackets base on field observations and were calculated by Treguer et al. 1995 (after Heinze et al. 2003).

Gnanadesikan A (1999) A global model of silicon cycling sensitivity to eddy parameterization and dissolution. Global Biogeochemical Cycles 13 199-220. 

Durme, J. P., Murray, J. W., Aufdenkampe, A., Blain, S. and Rodier, M. (1999). Silicon-nitrogen coupling in the equatorial Pacific upwelling zone. Glob. Biogeochem. Cycles 131,715-726. 

Ragueneau, O., Deblasvarela, E., Treguer, P., Queguiner, B, and Elamo, Y.D. (1994) Phytoplankton dynamics in relation to the biogeochemical cycle of silicon in a coastal ecosystem of western Europe. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 106 157-172. 

Alexandre A., Meunier J.-D., CoUn F., and Koud J.-M. (1997) Plant impact on the biogeochemical cycle of silicon and related weathering processes. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 61, 677-682. 

Nozaki Y. and Yamamoto Y. (2001) Radium 228 based nitrate fluxes in the eastern Indian Ocean and the South China Sea and a silicon-induced alkalinity pump hypothesis. Global Biogeochem. Cycles 15, 555-567. 

Modem calculations show that during the Earth s geological history about 17% of the total mass of silicon has been release via geochemical and biogeochemical cycling. 

Explain the role of living organisms in the global biogeochemical cycle of silicon. Compare the terrestrial and oceanic ecosystems. 

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