Global mesozooplankton communities show lower connectivity in deep oceanic layers

• DOI: 10.1111/mec.17286
• Publication Date: 2024-01-30T07:29:15Z
• Authors: Oriol Canals; Jon Corell; Ernesto Villarino; Guillem Chust; Eva Aylagas; Iñaki Mendibil; Craig T. Michell; Juan Ignacio Gonz...; Xabier Irigoien; Naiara Rodríguez‐...
• Keywords: Bathyal zone; Abyssal zone; Oceanic basin

Abstract Mesozooplankton is a key component of the ocean, regulating global processes such as carbon pump, and ensuring energy transfer from lower to higher trophic levels. Yet, knowledge on mesozooplankton diversity, distribution connectivity at scale still fragmented. To fill this gap, we applied DNA metabarcoding samples collected during Malaspina‐2010 circumnavigation expedition across Atlantic, Indian Pacific oceans surface bathypelagic depths. We highlight scarce diversity identify Ocean deep sea oceanic regions with highest proportion hidden diversity. report no consistent alpha‐diversity patterns for scale, neither vertical nor horizontal gradients. However, beta‐diversity analysis suggests structuring communities mostly attributed turnover reveals an increase in depth, indicating reduced deeper layers. Additionally, water mass type‐mediated instead basin‐mediated observed upper This limited dispersal ocean layers, most likely due weaker currents mixing types, thus reinforcing importance barriers shaping plankton communities.