Organic Coatings Reduce Dissolution Rate by an Order of Magnitude for Carbonate Minerals Produced by Marine Fish

Marine carbonate production and dissolution are important components of the global carbon cycle and the marine alkalinity budget. Global carbonate production by marine fish (ichthyocarbonate) has been estimated to be as high as 9.03 Pg CaCO3 yr−1; however, the fate of ichthyocarbonate is poorly understood. High magnesium concentrations in ichthyocarbonate would traditionally suggest rapid dissolution under current marine conditions, but a correlation between dissolution rate and mol%MgCO3 has not been observed. Here, we aim to determine the role of organic coatings on dissolution rates of ichthyocarbonate in marine environments. We applied a combination of petrographic, geochemical, and microCT approaches to assess the quantity and distribution of organic matter in ichthyocarbonate produced by two species of marine fish, the Gulf toadfish (Opsanus beta) and the Olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). We show that organic matter, including external coatings and embedded organic material, is volumetrically significant, ranging from 8.5% to 32.3% of ichthyocarbonate by volume. Bleach oxidation of external organic matter coatings increased the dissolution rate of ichthyocarbonate by more than an order of magnitude, suggesting these coatings serve to reduce reactive surface area of the mineral fraction in ichthyocarbonate. Assuming that organic coatings do not influence sinking rates, external coatings extend the depth of ichthyocarbonate persistence in the water column by ∼12–15×. Therefore, organic coatings are an important determinant of the role of ichthyocarbonate in the marine carbon cycle. Key Points Ichthyocarbonate‐associated organic matter occurs as embedded material and exterior coatings Exterior organic matter coatings on ichthyocarbonate slow mineral dissolution by 12–15× Organic matter exerts an important control on ichthyocarbonate fate, and thus may determine the role of marine fish in the carbon cycle