Unraveling Major Questions in Micronekton Ecology and Their Role in the Biological Carbon Pump Through Integrative Approaches and Autonomous Monitoring

• DOI: 10.5670/oceanog.2025e118
• Publication Date: 2025-03-07T11:51:46Z
• Authors: Pavanee Annasawmy; Guillaume Chandelier; Thomas Le Mézo
• Keywords: Carbon fibers

Micronekton consist of crustaceans, cephalopods, gelatinous organisms, and fishes that are 2–20 cm in size (Figure 1). These organisms have unique functional traits impact their vertical migration patterns ecosystem processes (Aparecido et al., 2023). Our understanding potential carbon transport sequestration from the epipelagic (upper 200 m) to mesopelagic zones (200–1,000 or deeper (e.g., Boyd 2019; Le Moigne, Cavan 2019) is limited by tools traditionally used assess biomass, diversity, varied Annasawmy 2019, 2024; Barbin Eduardo 2024). knowledge gaps notable considering micronekton ubiquitous throughout world ocean.