Massive Fluxes of Rhizosolenid Diatoms - a Common Occurrence

The potential nonlinearities in the relationship between vertical flux of material to the deep sea and rates of production in the surface water include the possibility that stochastic events are responsible for a large proportion of export below the euphotic zone. It has been suggested that large diatoms might play a role in such export production. We summarize data sets referring specifically to the rhizosolenid diatoms, including several not previously published, and show that mass sinking of rhizosolenids may be a common occurrence.