Active transport of particulate organic carbon and nitrogen by vertically migrating zooplankton in the Sargasso Sea

• DOI: 10.3354/meps234071
• Publication Date: 2007-08-23T08:04:25Z
• Authors: A Schnetzer; DK Steinberg
• Keywords: Diel vertical migration; Particulate organic carbon; Sediment trap; Sargasso sea; Mixed layer; Euphausiacea

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout JournalEditorsTheme Sections 234:71-84 (2002) - doi:10.3354/meps234071 Active transport of particulate organic carbon and nitrogen by vertically migrating zooplankton in Sargasso Sea Astrid Schnetzer1,*, Deborah K. Steinberg2 1Department Biological Sciences, University Southern California, 3616 Trousdale Parkway, AHF 301, Los Angeles,California 90089-0371, USA 2Virginia Institute Science, PO Box 1346, Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062, *E-mail: [e-mail] ABSTRACT: Diel can contribute significantly dissolved nutrient export respiring excreting surface-ingested matter below mixed layer. (POC) (PON) due defecation at depth has rarely been considered budgets. We measured gut passage time (GPT) common migrant species Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS) site, using fluorescence method, determine whether GPT is slow enough allow active POC PON depth. Mean for copepods Pleuromamma xiphias Euchirella messinensis was 191 114 min, respectively, euphausiids Thysanopoda aequalis Euphausia brevis (analyzed together) 41 exceeding previously reported non-migrating a factor 6. Between 18 81% initial pigment retained guts upon descent layer 150 m. By comparing ingestion rates (gut technique) with total (CHN analysis fecal material), we estimated that 71 85% diet originated from non-plant material, which included estimates POC/PON export. applied mean weight-specific rate examined migratory biomass data BATS time-series. flux 0.94 mgC m-2 d-1 (0.18 mgN d-1) maximum 5.27 (1.02 d-1), corresponding 3% (4%) 18% (20%) gravitational sediment traps Migrants also contributed passive production sinking pellets during night surface waters. This exceeded ~10-fold. Freshly released feces migrators could be valuable food source mesopelagic organisms, contrast produced waters decompose while settling through water column. KEY WORDS: Zooplankton · Vertical migration Gut evacuation Particulate Export Full text pdf format PreviousNextExport citation Tweet linkedIn Cited Published Vol. 234. Online publication date: June 03, 2002 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; 1616-1599 Copyright © Inter-Research.