The Importance of H in Particulate Organic Matter Stoichiometry, Export and Energy Flow

The discipline of marine ecological stoichiometry has progressed rapidly over the past two decades, and continues to be at the forefront of microbial oceanography. Most of this effort has been focused on the elements carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), and to a lesser extent phosphorus (P), with little consideration of hydrogen (H), or the redox state of the organic matter pools despite the fact that H is the most abundant, and possibly the most important, element in biogeochemistry. Obtaining accurate estimates of the H content of organic matter, either in suspended or sinking particles, is a major analytical challenge. While many aquatic science laboratories have access to commercial “C–H–N elemental analyzers,” few investigators report H values due to analytical difficulties in obtaining accurate estimates of H. Because organic compounds vary considerably in their H:C ratio and therefore in their energy content, measurements of H combined with C-specific caloric estimates will ultimately be required for a more comprehensive understanding of ecosystem dynamics.