Jelly biomass sinking speed reveals a fast carbon export mechanism

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Auteurs principaux: Lebrato, Mario, Mendes, Pedro André, Steinberg, Deborah K, Birsa, Laura M, Benavides, Mar, Oschlies, Andreas
Format: Dataset Open Access
Langue:en
Publié: PANGAEA 2013
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author Lebrato, Mario
Mendes, Pedro André
Steinberg, Deborah K
Birsa, Laura M
Benavides, Mar
Oschlies, Andreas
author_facet Lebrato, Mario
Mendes, Pedro André
Steinberg, Deborah K
Birsa, Laura M
Benavides, Mar
Oschlies, Andreas
collection Datos científicos de ciencias marinas y ambientales
contents 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 (salps: 800-1200 m/d; ctenophores: 1200-1500 m/d; scyphozoans: 1000-1100 m d; pyrosomes: 1300 m/d). 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.
format Dataset Open Access
id pangaea_https___doi_org_10_1594_PANGAEA_831964
institution PANGAEA
language en
publishDate 2013
publisher PANGAEA
record_format pangaea
spellingShingle Jelly biomass sinking speed reveals a fast carbon export mechanism
Lebrato, Mario
Mendes, Pedro André
Steinberg, Deborah K
Birsa, Laura M
Benavides, Mar
Oschlies, Andreas
BIOACID; Biological Impacts of Ocean Acidification
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 (salps: 800-1200 m/d; ctenophores: 1200-1500 m/d; scyphozoans: 1000-1100 m d; pyrosomes: 1300 m/d). 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.
title Jelly biomass sinking speed reveals a fast carbon export mechanism
topic BIOACID; Biological Impacts of Ocean Acidification
url https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.831964