Nutrient fluxes between water column and sediments: Potential influence of the pearl oyster culture

► Benthic fluxes provide 28% of nitrogen requirements of phytoplankton in nitrogen limited ecosystem. ► Pearl oyster culture influence sedimentation rates and material transfer. ► Benthic fluxes mainly controlled by biological processes. ► Assumption of a twofold functioning of the benthic interface according to depth and irradiance.