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Jelly biomass sinking speed reveals a fast carbon export mechanism

Jelly biomass sinking speed reveals a fast carbon export mechanism
Jelly biomass sinking speed reveals a fast carbon export mechanism
Sinking of gelatinous zooplankton biomass is an important component of the biological pump removing carbon from the upper ocean. The export efficiency, e.g., how much biomass reaches the ocean interior sequestering carbon, is poorly known because of the absence of reliable sinking speed data. We measured sinking rates of gelatinous particulate organic matter (jelly-POM) from different species of scyphozoans, ctenophores, thaliaceans, and pteropods, both in the field and in the laboratory in vertical columns filled with seawater using high-quality video. Using these data, we determined taxon-specific jelly-POM export efficiencies using equations that integrate biomass decay rate, seawater temperature, and sinking speed. Two depth scenarios in several environments were considered, with jelly-POM sinking from 200 and 600 m in temperate, tropical, and polar regions. Jelly-POM sank on average between 850 and 1500 m d?1 (salps: 800–1200 m d?1; ctenophores: 1200–1500 m d?1; scyphozoans: 1000–1100 m d?1; pyrosomes: 1300 m d?1). High latitudes represent a fast-sinking and low-remineralization corridor, regardless of species. In tropical and temperate regions, significant decomposition takes place above 1500 m unless jelly-POM sinks below the permanent thermocline. Sinking jelly-POM sequesters carbon to the deep ocean faster than anticipated, and should be incorporated into biogeochemical and modeling studies to provide more realistic quantification of export via the biological carbon pump worldwide.
0024-3590
1113-1122
Lebrato, Mario
0c14d20e-c641-4a61-8ba2-b6377cdf1777
de Jesus Mendes, Pedro
c970c520-1b12-4954-9eaf-3ea3324badfc
Steinberg, Deborah K.
e4ce9b1a-f16d-4a73-a834-786ff9e3c2ef
Cartes, Joan E.
de93ec1c-d054-41c9-976a-2bb9a6fc2292
Jones, Bethan M.
2a40cabe-e5ee-4454-8aab-585c3af9fa70
Birsa, Laura M.
203ef19c-53eb-49d7-9108-017940ec8eb0
Benavides, Roberto
7f39a708-4489-4013-8a72-238f2b741994
Oschlies, Andreas
75e18f55-3134-44a2-82ba-71334397727f
Lebrato, Mario
0c14d20e-c641-4a61-8ba2-b6377cdf1777
de Jesus Mendes, Pedro
c970c520-1b12-4954-9eaf-3ea3324badfc
Steinberg, Deborah K.
e4ce9b1a-f16d-4a73-a834-786ff9e3c2ef
Cartes, Joan E.
de93ec1c-d054-41c9-976a-2bb9a6fc2292
Jones, Bethan M.
2a40cabe-e5ee-4454-8aab-585c3af9fa70
Birsa, Laura M.
203ef19c-53eb-49d7-9108-017940ec8eb0
Benavides, Roberto
7f39a708-4489-4013-8a72-238f2b741994
Oschlies, Andreas
75e18f55-3134-44a2-82ba-71334397727f

Lebrato, Mario, de Jesus Mendes, Pedro, Steinberg, Deborah K., Cartes, Joan E., Jones, Bethan M., Birsa, Laura M., Benavides, Roberto and Oschlies, Andreas (2013) Jelly biomass sinking speed reveals a fast carbon export mechanism. Limnology and Oceanography, 58 (3), 1113-1122. (doi:10.4319/lo.2013.58.3.1113).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Sinking of gelatinous zooplankton biomass is an important component of the biological pump removing carbon from the upper ocean. The export efficiency, e.g., how much biomass reaches the ocean interior sequestering carbon, is poorly known because of the absence of reliable sinking speed data. We measured sinking rates of gelatinous particulate organic matter (jelly-POM) from different species of scyphozoans, ctenophores, thaliaceans, and pteropods, both in the field and in the laboratory in vertical columns filled with seawater using high-quality video. Using these data, we determined taxon-specific jelly-POM export efficiencies using equations that integrate biomass decay rate, seawater temperature, and sinking speed. Two depth scenarios in several environments were considered, with jelly-POM sinking from 200 and 600 m in temperate, tropical, and polar regions. Jelly-POM sank on average between 850 and 1500 m d?1 (salps: 800–1200 m d?1; ctenophores: 1200–1500 m d?1; scyphozoans: 1000–1100 m d?1; pyrosomes: 1300 m d?1). High latitudes represent a fast-sinking and low-remineralization corridor, regardless of species. In tropical and temperate regions, significant decomposition takes place above 1500 m unless jelly-POM sinks below the permanent thermocline. Sinking jelly-POM sequesters carbon to the deep ocean faster than anticipated, and should be incorporated into biogeochemical and modeling studies to provide more realistic quantification of export via the biological carbon pump worldwide.

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More information

Published date: May 2013
Organisations: Ocean Biochemistry & Ecosystems

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Local EPrints ID: 353201
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/353201
ISSN: 0024-3590
PURE UUID: d1ac7091-212c-4da8-908f-1cf378e47fe7

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Date deposited: 31 May 2013 12:58
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 14:02

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Contributors

Author: Mario Lebrato
Author: Pedro de Jesus Mendes
Author: Deborah K. Steinberg
Author: Joan E. Cartes
Author: Bethan M. Jones
Author: Laura M. Birsa
Author: Roberto Benavides
Author: Andreas Oschlies

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