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14.7: Physical Factors - Nutrients

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    Nutrients

    Nutrients: are not "food," but are more like vitamins and minerals (fertilizer) essential to life functions.

    • Aids in the production of food (primary production).
    • Nutrients are essential to support photosynthesis—the process that provides sugars (energy) to support all other life processes.
    • There are many more intermediate processes requiring nutrients to produce other complex organic compounds (proteins, carbohydrates, fats, etc).

    Sources of Nutrients: Upwelling and continental weathering & erosion
    Primary nutrients = nitrates and phosphates
    Secondary = minerals: calcium, iron, zinc, sodium, and many others.

    Coastal upwelling
    Figure 14.13. Upwelling brings nutrients to the surface where they are utilized in primary production.

    This page titled 14.7: Physical Factors - Nutrients is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Miracosta Oceanography 101 (Miracosta)) via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request.