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Phytodetritus and the abundance and biomass of abyssal nematodes in the central, equatorial Pacific

Phytodetritus and the abundance and biomass of abyssal nematodes in the central, equatorial Pacific
Phytodetritus and the abundance and biomass of abyssal nematodes in the central, equatorial Pacific
The abundance and biomass of abyssal (4300–5000 m) nematodes were investigated along a latitudinal gradient of phytodetritus deposition from 0 to 23°N in the central, equatorial Pacific (140–158°W). Nematode abundance in the oligotrophic, central, North Pacific gyre was 50% lower than at the equator while macrofauna abundance increased 6.5 times over the same transect. Nematode abundance and biomass in the surface (0–1 cm) sediment layer were significantly higher at phytodetritus stations than at non-phytodetritus stations. Abundance and biomass were within the range recorded from other sites of comparable depth that also receive an input of phytodetritus. Abundance was also strongly correlated with microbial biomass. An increase in body size was associated with an increase in food supply. The results demonstrate that the equatorial Pacific represents an immense zone of relatively high nematode standing stock.
nematodes, nematoda, phytodetritus
0967-0637
555-565
Brown, Caroline J.
50e2ef6b-36a3-4484-917e-9358c57bfea8
Lambshead, P. John D.
166dba0e-f845-4daa-aa1e-4cc2006f10fb
Smith, Craig R.
f930361f-9312-4e0a-9832-26008197eb32
Hawkins, Lawrence E.
9c4d1845-82db-4305-acb5-31b218ac9c0e
Farley, Rachel
f4c89a42-5580-4472-9243-bf0d899a9985
Brown, Caroline J.
50e2ef6b-36a3-4484-917e-9358c57bfea8
Lambshead, P. John D.
166dba0e-f845-4daa-aa1e-4cc2006f10fb
Smith, Craig R.
f930361f-9312-4e0a-9832-26008197eb32
Hawkins, Lawrence E.
9c4d1845-82db-4305-acb5-31b218ac9c0e
Farley, Rachel
f4c89a42-5580-4472-9243-bf0d899a9985

Brown, Caroline J., Lambshead, P. John D., Smith, Craig R., Hawkins, Lawrence E. and Farley, Rachel (2001) Phytodetritus and the abundance and biomass of abyssal nematodes in the central, equatorial Pacific. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers, 48 (2), 555-565. (doi:10.1016/S0967-0637(00)00049-2).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The abundance and biomass of abyssal (4300–5000 m) nematodes were investigated along a latitudinal gradient of phytodetritus deposition from 0 to 23°N in the central, equatorial Pacific (140–158°W). Nematode abundance in the oligotrophic, central, North Pacific gyre was 50% lower than at the equator while macrofauna abundance increased 6.5 times over the same transect. Nematode abundance and biomass in the surface (0–1 cm) sediment layer were significantly higher at phytodetritus stations than at non-phytodetritus stations. Abundance and biomass were within the range recorded from other sites of comparable depth that also receive an input of phytodetritus. Abundance was also strongly correlated with microbial biomass. An increase in body size was associated with an increase in food supply. The results demonstrate that the equatorial Pacific represents an immense zone of relatively high nematode standing stock.

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More information

Published date: February 2001
Keywords: nematodes, nematoda, phytodetritus

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 8906
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/8906
ISSN: 0967-0637
PURE UUID: 5775fe0b-a290-461f-822b-0a1cc2b249db
ORCID for Lawrence E. Hawkins: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-9236-2396

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 10 Sep 2004
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 02:36

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Contributors

Author: Caroline J. Brown
Author: P. John D. Lambshead
Author: Craig R. Smith
Author: Rachel Farley

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