Controlling mechanisms and cross linkages of ecosystem metabolism and atmospheric CO2 flux in the northern South China Sea

Abstract This study aims to understand the controlling mechanisms of ecosystem metabolic states and air-sea CO2 fluxes and their cross linkages in the northern South China Sea (NSCS). The integrated gross production (IGP), integrated dark community respiration (IDCR), and integrated bacterial respiration (IBR) were all higher in summer than in winter ranging from 851, 435, and 243 to 5032, 10707, and 7547 mg C m−2 d−1, respectively. The discrete estimates of gross production (GP) and dark community respiration (DCR) were modulated by temperature, salinity and nutrient availability through different mechanisms in summer and winter and in shallow (Zhujiang River plumes and shelves) and deep (slope and basin) sampling stations. GP was correlated with DCR (r = 0.74, p