Marine gases: Challenges to the bio(geo)chemist

Gases are produced and consumed by numerous biological processes in the oceans and some volatiles are readily exchanged with the atmosphere where they can affect our climate. They can be waste products but they are also fundamental as nutrient and energy sources and terminal electron acceptors in respiration, and can facilitate communication and interactions via diffusive signalling. Here we will introduce some major gases and mention a few more enigmatic volatiles before focussing on the bio(geo)chemistry of dimethyl sulfide (DMS), ethene and isoprene, three important gases that are currently at the forefront of our research.