Fig. 4: Cumulative carbon loss from sinking diatom aggregates.
Aggregates were individually incubated in rotating tanks at either atmospheric pressure (grey) or increasing pressure (pink). a Carbon loss through aerobic respiration (C lossResp) as calculated from aerobic respiration rates (Fig. 2d, f) and a respiration quotient of RQ = 0.8. b Carbon loss through DOC leakage (C lossLeak) as calculated from the change in ambient DOC concentrations (Fig. 3a–c). c Total carbon loss (C lossTotal) through C lossResp plus C lossLeak. Carbon loss is expressed relative to the initial carbon content of the respective aggregate. Means (circles) ± standard deviation (shaded area) of n = 7 replicate aggregates (C lossResp) and n = 15 replicate aggregates (C lossLeak) are shown. Aggregates were produced in three independent batches that were pooled for this plot.
