Vertical biochemical composition of particulate organic matter in the Seychelles-Chagos Thermocline Ridge (SCTR), southwestern Indian Ocean

Abstract

The Seychelles-Chagos Thermocline Ridge (SCTR) in the southwestern Indian Ocean is characterized by upwelling-driven nutrient enrichment and enhanced biological activity compared to adjacent non-SCTR regions. This study investigated the vertical distribution and biochemical composition of particulate organic matter (POM) within these contrasting environments. The SCTR featured a shallower thermocline and cooler sea surface temperatures, indicative of upwelling, which correlated with significantly higher chlorophyll-a concentrations (t-test, p < 0.05). A notable dominance of micro-sized phytoplankton was observed in the SCTR, contributing 13.6 ± 3.0 % of the total phytoplankton biomass, compared to 5.6 ± 1.6 % in the non-SCTR. CHEMTAX analysis revealed distinct phytoplankton communities, with diatoms being approximately four times more abundant in the SCTR (16.5 ± 4.5 %) than in the non-SCTR (4.2 ± 1.2 %). Meanwhile, Prochlorococcus dominated both regions but contributed less in the SCTR (25.2 ± 3.9 %) than non-SCTR (46.8 ± 7.1 %). The biological macromolecular composition of POM showed clear regional differences, with lipid concentrations in the SCTR's photic layer significantly higher (61.3 μg L⁻¹) than in the non-SCTR (23.4 μg L⁻¹). Total biological macromolecule concentrations in the SCTR's photic zone was more than double that of the non-SCTR (96.3 μg L⁻¹ vs. 40.9 μg L⁻¹), reflecting enhanced biological productivity. Elevated macromolecule concentrations were also detected in the aphotic layer of the SCTR. Notably, the less pronounced decline in the protein-to-carbohydrate ratio from photic to aphotic layers in the SCTR suggests that POM sinking to the deep ocean in this region is relatively fresher and less degraded, indicating a more efficient biological carbon pump and enhanced potential for carbon sequestration. These findings highlight the SCTR as a key region of elevated biological productivity and distinct environmental mechanisms driving biogeochemical cycling, providing critical insights into organic matter preservation and carbon export processes in tropical upwelling systems and their role in global marine ecosystems.