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Biogeochemical cycles and marine ecosystems, particularly planktonic ecosystems, are tightly coupled. Plankton communities regulate the cycling of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, iron, and other elements between inorganic and organic forms in the ocean, driving key biogeochemical processes. However, opportunities for ocean-going observations in the open ocean are severely constrained, and resources for these observations are often limited. This indicates that most of the significant processes in biology, ecology, and biogeochemistry, including anthropogenic impacts, remain poorly understood in the open ocean. Therefore, large-scale collaboration is essential to understand biogeochemical cycles and marine ecosystems, and to detect disturbances in our rapidly changing oceans. To achieve this, we need a platform to present and discuss up-to-date techniques and findings that deepen our understanding of open-ocean biological systems and enhance collaboration.
This session invites biological, ecological, and biogeochemical studies in the open ocean, from polar to tropical regions. We especially welcome shipboard observational studies, but also encourage submissions of modeling-based work that propose observational validations, studies using satellites and autonomous platforms, and projects focusing on a single species or element, which are key components of open-ocean biogeochemical cycles and ecosystems. We also welcome presentations on cutting-edge technologies that can be applied to open-ocean observations.