Phosphorus regeneration in continental margin sediments

Benthic incubation chambers have been deployed in a variety of geochemical environments along the California Continental Margin. These include both high and low oxygen environments and sites where the rate of organic matter oxidation on the seafloor (C ox) ranges from < 1 mmol m −2 day −1 to more than 7 mmol m −2 day −1 through a depth range of 100–3500 m. This range in the rate of organic matter oxidation along with variations in the concentration of bottom water oxygen allow us to elucidate the diagenetic conditions under which P regeneration may be decoupled from organic matter cycling. Under conditions where bottom water oxygen concentration is low (