Journal
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
Volume 146, Issue -, Pages 1-11Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2019.02.014
Keywords
Bermuda; Euphotic zone; Twilight zone; Community composition; Copepods; Biological carbon pump
Funding
- XL Catlin
- European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme [678760]
- Garfield Weston Foundation
- H2020 Societal Challenges Programme [678760] Funding Source: H2020 Societal Challenges Programme
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Zooplankton form a trophic link between primary producers and higher trophic levels, and exert significant influence on the vertical transport of carbon through the water column ('biological carbon pump'). Using a MultiNet we sampled and studied mesozooplankton communities (i.e. > 0.2 mm) from six locations around Bermuda targeting four depth zones: similar to 0-200 m, similar to 200-400 m, similar to 400-600 m (deep-scattering layer), and similar to 600-800 m. Copepoda, our focal taxonomic group, consistently dominated samples (similar to 80% relative abundance). We report declines in zooplankton and copepod abundance with depth, concurrent with decreases in food availability. Taxonomic richness was lowest at depth and below the deep-scattering layer. In contrast, copepod diversity peaked at these depths, suggesting lower competitive displacement in these more food-limited waters. Finally, omnivory and carnivory, were the dominant trophic traits, each one affecting the biological carbon pump in a different way. This highlights the importance of incorporating data on zooplankton food web structure in future modelling of global ocean carbon cycling.
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