Abundance and elemental composition of particulate matter tn the upper layer of northeastern Mediterranean

Abstract

Suspended particulate (POC: PON, PP) profiles obtained in 1991-1994 indicate the existence of characteristic subsurface maxima near the base of the euphotic zone in the cyclonic Rhodes gyre and its peripherial waters in the Northeastern Mediterranean. Interestingly the N:P of the bulk seston nas reasonable during stratification seasons when the surface water was relatively: poor in phosphate: but the ratio was unexpectedly low (N:P=6-12) in the late winter of 1992 when the surface layer of Rhodes gyre was occupied with nutrient rich deep waters.