FRONTAL ECOSYSTEMS - PHYSICAL CONTROL OF THE C AND N FLUXES
Résumé
The processes of nutrient fertilization have been studied in the frontal zones of the Western English Channel (Ushant tidal front and Celtic Sea shelf-break front). The vertical fluxes of nutrients in these two areas present different periodicities which are controlled by the temporal characteristics of the physical processes. Our present work concerns the study of the relationships between the periodicities of fertilization and the structures of the food webs. The relative importance of the new and regenerated production has been determined and the capacity of the frontal systems to export organic matter has been examined.