Scientists have discovered a previously unknown mechanism in the deep ocean where extreme pressure releases nutrients from sinking organic matter, providing an important food source for deep-sea microbes. The research focuses on "marine snow"—tiny particles composed of dead algae and other organic material that continuously sink from upper ocean layers toward the seafloor.
According to the findings, the immense pressure at depth physically squeezes nutrients out of these sinking particles, making them available to microorganisms in the deep sea. This process occurs as the particles descend through the water column under the weight of the ocean above them.
The discovery has implications for understanding ocean carbon cycling. The research suggests that more carbon than previously believed escapes from sinking particles into the surrounding deep ocean water, rather than remaining locked within the particles themselves. This released carbon becomes accessible to deep-sea microbial communities, affecting how nutrients and energy flow through deep ocean ecosystems.
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