A selective chemical photosynthesis inhibitor, DCMU (Dichorophenyl-dimethylurea), dissolved in DMSO (Dimethyl sulfoxide) was substituted for the dark incubation method commonly used to measure the oxygen consumption in metabolic and primary production studies. We compared oxygen fluxes during light incubations with DCMU and dark incubations procedure, on soft bottom benthos. For this purpose, we studied the effects of different DCMU concentrations. A concentration of 5 · 10-5 mol l-1 inside a clear incubation enclosure completely inhibits photosynthesis without affecting the metabolism of soft bottom benthos.

Sites: 1. Rocher à la Voile 1, 2. Récif Mbere II, 3. Ilôt Goeland, 4. Grand Recif Aboré, 5. Sèche Croissant I, 6. Rocher à la Voile II, 7. Larégnère, 8. Baie de Dumbéa, 9. Baie Maa I, 10. Baie Maa II, 11. Signal, 12. Boulari, 13. Magenta, 14. Sèche Croissant II. In order to allow full comparability with other ocean acidification data sets, the R package seacarb (Lavigne and Gattuso, 2011) was used to compute a complete and consistent set of carbonate system variables, as described by Nisumaa et al. (2010). In this dataset the original values were archived in addition with the recalculated parameters (see related PI).WARNING: Photosynthetic inhibitor used!

Supplement to: Garrigue, Claire; Clavier, Jacques; Boucher, Guy (1992): The use of photosynthesis inhibitor (DCMU) for in situ metabolic and primary production studies on soft bottom benthos. Hydrobiologia, 246(2), 141-145