International audienceSilicon (Si), in the form of dissolved silicate (DSi), is a key nutrient in marine and continental ecosystems. DSi is taken up by organisms to produce structural elements (e.g., shells and phytoliths) composed of amorphous biogenic silica (bSiO(2)). A global mass balance model of the biologically active part of the modern Si cycle is derived on the basis of a systematic review of existing data regarding terrestrial and oceanic production fluxes, reservoir sizes, and residence times for DSi and bSiO(2). The model demonstrates the high sensitivity of biogeochemical Si cycling in the coastal zone to anthropogenic pressures, such as river damming and global temperature rise. As a result, further significant changes in the production and recycling of bSiO(2) in the coastal zone are to be expected over the course of this century

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International audienceThe recycling of biogenic silica (bSiO2) produced by diatoms is a vital process sustaining a significant fraction of primary production in the oceans. The efficiency with which bSiO2 dissolves controls the availability of nutrient silicon in the water column, and modulates the export of organic carbon to the deep sea. Environmental conditions during biomineralization (temperature, nutrient availability, light, etc.) affect the silicification and weathering resistance of diatom frustules, while ecosystem processes, including grazing and aggregation, are determining factors for the recycling of bSiO2 in the water column. Bacterial colonization of dead diatoms leads to the decomposition of the protective organic layers allowing for the dissolution of bSiO2 to begin. The dissolution rate of diatom frustules is a function of the physicochemical properties of both the silica (e.g., specific surface area, degree of hydration and condensation, impurities) and the aqueous medium (e.g., temperature, pH, pressure, electrolyte composition). In sediments, the dissolution of bSiO2 is controlled by the presence of lithogenic minerals, aging processes and the build up of dSi in the pore waters. In particular, interactions between lithogenic silicate minerals and bSiO2 may initiate rapid diagenetic alterations that favor the preservation of bSiO2