scholarly journals The contribution of zooplankton faecal pellets to deep carbon transport in the Scotia Sea (Southern Ocean)

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 16105-16134 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Manno ◽  
G. Stowasser ◽  
P. Enderlein ◽  
S. Fielding ◽  
G. A. Tarling
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Zooplankton Community ◽  
Deep Ocean ◽  
Sediment Traps ◽  
Scotia Sea ◽  
Faecal Pellets ◽  
Community Shift

Abstract. The northern Scotia Sea contains the largest seasonal uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide yet measured in the Southern Ocean. This study examines one of the main routes by which this carbon fluxes to the deep ocean, through the production of faecal pellets (FPs) by the zooplankton community. Deep sediment traps were deployed in two sites with contrasting ocean productivity regimes (P3, naturally iron-fertilized and P2, iron-limited), within the same water mass. The magnitude and seasonal pattern of particulate organic carbon (POC) and FPs in the traps was markedly different between the two sites. Maximum fluxes at P3 (22.91 mg C m−2 d−1; 2534 × 10 FP m−2 d−1) were an order of magnitude higher than at P2 (4.01 mg C m−2 d−1; 915 × 10 FP m−2 d−1), with flux at P3 exhibiting a double seasonal peak, compared to a single flatter peak at P2. The maximum contribution of FP carbon to the total amount of POC was twice as high at P3 (91%) compared to P2 (40%). The dominant FP category at P3 varied between round, ovoidal, cylindrical and tabular over the course of the year while, at P2, ovoidal FPs were consistently dominant, always making up more than 60% of the FP assemblage. There was also a difference in the FP state between the two sites, with FPs being relatively intact at P3, while FPs were often fragmented with broken peritrophic membranes at P2. The exception was ovoidal FPs, which were relatively intact at both sites. Our observations suggest that there was community shift from an herbivorous to an omnivorous diet from spring through to autumn at P3 while detritivores had a higher relative importance over the year at P2. Furthermore, the flux was mainly a product of the vertically migrating zooplankton community at P3 while the FP flux was more likely to be generated by deeper-dwelling zooplankton feeding on recycled material at P2. The results demonstrate that the feeding behavior and vertical distribution of the zooplankton community plays a critical role in controlling the magnitude of carbon export to the deep ocean in this region.

scholarly journals The contribution of zooplankton faecal pellets to deep-carbon transport in the Scotia Sea (Southern Ocean)

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1955-1965 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Manno ◽  
G. Stowasser ◽  
P. Enderlein ◽  
S. Fielding ◽  
G. A. Tarling
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Zooplankton Community ◽  
Deep Ocean ◽  
Sediment Traps ◽  
Scotia Sea ◽  
Faecal Pellets ◽  
Community Shift

Abstract. The northern Scotia Sea contains the largest seasonal uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide yet measured in the Southern Ocean. This study examines one of the main routes by which this carbon fluxes to the deep ocean: through the production of faecal pellets (FPs) by the zooplankton community. Deep sediment traps were deployed at two sites with contrasting ocean productivity regimes (P3, naturally iron-fertilized, and P2, iron-limited) within the same water mass. The magnitude and seasonal pattern of particulate organic carbon (POC) and FPs in the traps was markedly different between the two sites. Maximum fluxes at P3 (22.91 mg C m−2 d−1; 2534 FP m−2 d1) were 1 order of magnitude higher than at P2 (4.01 mg C m−2 d−1; 915 FP m−2 d1, with flux at P3 exhibiting a double seasonal peak, compared to a single flatter peak at P2. The maximum contribution of FP carbon to the total amount of POC was twice as high at P3 (91%) compared to P2 (40%). The dominant FP category at P3 varied between round, ovoidal, cylindrical and tabular over the course of the year, while, at P2, ovoidal FPs were consistently dominant, always making up more than 60% of the FP assemblage. There was also a difference in the FP state between the two sites, with FPs being relatively intact at P3, while FPs were often fragmented with broken peritrophic membranes at P2. The exception was ovoidal FPs, which were relatively intact at both sites. Our observations suggest that there was a community shift from a herbivorous to an omnivorous diet from spring through to autumn at P3, while detritivores had a higher relative importance over the year at P2. Furthermore, the flux was mainly a product of the vertically migrating zooplankton community at P3, while the FP flux was more likely to be generated by deeper-dwelling zooplankton feeding on recycled material at P2. The results demonstrate that the feeding behaviour and vertical distribution of the zooplankton community plays a critical role in controlling the magnitude of carbon export to the deep ocean in this region.

scholarly journals Copepod faecal pellet transfer through the meso- and bathypelagic layers in the Southern Ocean in spring

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 1511-1525 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Belcher ◽  
Clara Manno ◽  
Peter Ward ◽  
Stephanie A. Henson ◽  
Richard Sanders ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Deep Ocean ◽  
Sediment Traps ◽  
Faecal Pellet ◽  
Copepod Community ◽  
Scotia Sea ◽  
Faecal Pellets ◽  
A Minor

Abstract. The faecal pellets (FPs) of zooplankton can be important vehicles for the transfer of particulate organic carbon (POC) to the deep ocean, often making large contributions to carbon sequestration. However, the routes by which these FPs reach the deep ocean have yet to be fully resolved. We address this by comparing estimates of copepod FP production to measurements of copepod FP size, shape, and number in the upper mesopelagic (175–205 m) using Marine Snow Catchers, and in the bathypelagic using sediment traps (1500–2000 m). The study is focussed on the Scotia Sea, which contains some of the most productive regions in the Southern Ocean, where epipelagic FP production is likely to be high. We found that, although the size distribution of the copepod community suggests that high numbers of small FPs are produced in the epipelagic, small FPs are rare in the deeper layers, implying that they are not transferred efficiently to depth. Consequently, small FPs make only a minor contribution to FP fluxes in the meso- and bathypelagic, particularly in terms of carbon. The dominant FPs in the upper mesopelagic were cylindrical and elliptical, while ovoid FPs were dominant in the bathypelagic. The change in FP morphology, as well as size distribution, points to the repacking of surface FPs in the mesopelagic and in situ production in the lower meso- and bathypelagic, which may be augmented by inputs of FPs via zooplankton vertical migrations. The flux of carbon to the deeper layers within the Southern Ocean is therefore strongly modulated by meso- and bathypelagic zooplankton, meaning that the community structure in these zones has a major impact on the efficiency of FP transfer to depth.

scholarly journals Zooplankton faecal pellet transfer through the meso- and bathypelagic layers in the Southern Ocean in spring

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Belcher ◽  
Clara Manno ◽  
Pete Ward ◽  
Stephanie Henson ◽  
Richard Sanders ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Deep Ocean ◽  
Sediment Traps ◽  
Faecal Pellet ◽  
Scotia Sea ◽  
Faecal Pellets ◽  
Minor Contribution ◽  
A Minor

Abstract. The faecal pellets (FP) of zooplankton can be important vehicles for the transfer of particulate organic carbon (POC) to the deep ocean, often making large contributions to carbon sequestration. However, the routes by which these FP reach the deep ocean have yet to be fully resolved. We address this by comparing estimates of FP production to measurements of FP size, shape and number in the upper mesopelagic (175–205 m), using Marine Snow Catchers, and in the bathypelagic, using sediment traps (1,500–2,000 m). The study is focussed on the Scotia Sea, which contains some of the most productive regions in the Southern Ocean, where epipelagic FP production is likely to be high. We found that, although the size distribution of zooplankton suggests that high numbers of small FP are produced in the epipelagic, small FP are rare in the deeper layers, implying that they are not transferred efficiently to depth. Consequently, small FP make only a minor contribution to FP fluxes in the meso- and bathypelagic, particularly in terms of carbon. The dominant FP in the upper mesopelagic were cylindrical and elliptical, while ovoid FP were dominant in the bathypelagic. The change in FP morphology, as well as size distribution, points to the repacking of surface FP in the mesopelagic and in situ production in the lower meso- and bathypelagic, augmented by inputs of FP via zooplankton vertical migrations. The flux of carbon to the deeper layers within the Southern Ocean is therefore strongly modulated by meso- and bathypelagic zooplankton, meaning that the community structure in these zones has a major impact on the efficiency of FP transfer to depth.

scholarly journals Coccolithophore populations and their contribution to carbonate export during an annual cycle in the Australian sector of the Antarctic zone

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 1843-1862 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrés S. Rigual Hernández ◽  
José A. Flores ◽  
Francisco J. Sierro ◽  
Miguel A. Fuertes ◽  
Lluïsa Cros ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Ocean Acidification ◽  
Deep Ocean ◽  
Sediment Traps ◽  
Global Ocean ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Scotia Sea ◽  
Allochthonous Species ◽  
Circumpolar Current ◽  
The Antarctic

Abstract. The Southern Ocean is experiencing rapid and relentless change in its physical and biogeochemical properties. The rate of warming of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current exceeds that of the global ocean, and the enhanced uptake of carbon dioxide is causing basin-wide ocean acidification. Observational data suggest that these changes are influencing the distribution and composition of pelagic plankton communities. Long-term and annual field observations on key environmental variables and organisms are a critical basis for predicting changes in Southern Ocean ecosystems. These observations are particularly needed, since high-latitude systems have been projected to experience the most severe impacts of ocean acidification and invasions of allochthonous species. Coccolithophores are the most prolific calcium-carbonate-producing phytoplankton group playing an important role in Southern Ocean biogeochemical cycles. Satellite imagery has revealed elevated particulate inorganic carbon concentrations near the major circumpolar fronts of the Southern Ocean that can be attributed to the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi. Recent studies have suggested changes during the last decades in the distribution and abundance of Southern Ocean coccolithophores. However, due to limited field observations, the distribution, diversity and state of coccolithophore populations in the Southern Ocean remain poorly characterised. We report here on seasonal variations in the abundance and composition of coccolithophore assemblages collected by two moored sediment traps deployed at the Antarctic zone south of Australia (2000 and 3700 m of depth) for 1 year in 2001–2002. Additionally, seasonal changes in coccolith weights of E. huxleyi populations were estimated using circularly polarised micrographs analysed with C-Calcita software. Our findings indicate that (1) coccolithophore sinking assemblages were nearly monospecific for E. huxleyi morphotype B/C in the Antarctic zone waters in 2001–2002; (2) coccoliths captured by the traps experienced weight and length reduction during summer (December–February); (3) the estimated annual coccolith weight of E. huxleyi at both sediment traps (2.11 ± 0.96 and 2.13 ± 0.91 pg at 2000 and 3700 m) was consistent with previous studies for morphotype B/C in other Southern Ocean settings (Scotia Sea and Patagonian shelf); and (4) coccolithophores accounted for approximately 2–5 % of the annual deep-ocean CaCO3 flux. Our results are the first annual record of coccolithophore abundance, composition and degree of calcification in the Antarctic zone. They provide a baseline against which to monitor coccolithophore responses to changes in the environmental conditions expected for this region in coming decades.

scholarly journals Continuous moulting by Antarctic krill drives major pulses of carbon export in the north Scotia Sea, Southern Ocean

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Manno ◽  
S. Fielding ◽  
G. Stowasser ◽  
E. J. Murphy ◽  
S. E. Thorpe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Antarctic Krill ◽  
Deep Ocean ◽  
Carbon Export ◽  
Scotia Sea ◽  
Faecal Pellets ◽  
The North ◽  
Poc Flux ◽  
Moulting Cycle

AbstractAntarctic krill play an important role in biogeochemical cycles and can potentially generate high-particulate organic carbon (POC) fluxes to the deep ocean. They also have an unusual trait of moulting continuously throughout their life-cycle. We determine the krill seasonal contribution to POC flux in terms of faecal pellets (FP), exuviae and carcasses from sediment trap samples collected in the Southern Ocean. We found that krill moulting generated an exuviae flux of similar order to that of FP, together accounting for 87% of an annual POC flux (22.8 g m−2 y−1). Using an inverse modelling approach, we determined the krill population size necessary to generate this flux peaked at 261 g m−2. This study shows the important role of krill exuviae as a vector for POC flux. Since krill moulting cycle depends on temperature, our results highlight the sensitivity of POC flux to rapid regional environmental change.

scholarly journals Preservation of terrestrial organic carbon in marine sediments off shore Taiwan: mountain building and atmospheric carbon dioxide sequestration

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 177-206
Author(s):  
S.-J. Kao ◽  
R. G. Hilton ◽  
K. Selvaraj ◽  
M. Dai ◽  
F. Zehetner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Marine Sediments ◽  
Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Climatic Variability ◽  
Deep Ocean ◽  
Sediment Traps ◽  
Terrestrial Biosphere ◽  
Atmospheric Carbon ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Co2

Abstract. Geological sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) can be achieved by the erosion of organic carbon (OC) from the terrestrial biosphere and its burial in long-lived marine sediments. Rivers on mountain islands of Oceania in the western Pacific have very high rates of OC export to the ocean, yet its preservation offshore remains poorly constrained. Here we use the OC content (Corg, %), radiocarbon (Δ14Corg) and stable isotope (δ13Corg) composition of sediments offshore Taiwan to assess the fate of terrestrial OC. We account for rock-derived fossil OC to assess the preservation of OC eroded from the terrestrial biosphere (non-fossil OC) during flood discharges (hyperpycnal river plumes) and when river inputs are dispersed more widely (hypopycnal). The Corg, Δ14Corg and δ13Corg of marine sediment traps and cores indicate that during flood discharges, terrestrial OC is transferred efficiently to the deep ocean and accumulates offshore with little evidence for terrestrial OC loss. In marine sediments fed by dispersive river inputs, the Corg, Δ14Corg and δ13Corg are consistent with mixing of marine OC and terrestrial OC and suggest that efficient preservation of terrestrial OC (> 70%) is also associated with hypopycnal delivery. Re-burial of fossil OC is pervasive. Our findings from Taiwan suggest that erosion and marine burial of terrestrial non-fossil OC may sequester > 8 TgC yr−1 across Oceania, a significant geological CO2 sink which requires better constraint. We postulate that mountain islands of Oceania provide strong link between tectonic uplift and the carbon cycle, one moderated by the climatic variability that controls terrestrial OC delivery to the ocean.

scholarly journals The O2/N2 Ratio and CO2 Airborne Southern Ocean Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 99 (2) ◽  
pp. 381-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Britton B. Stephens ◽  
Matthew C. Long ◽  
Ralph F. Keeling ◽  
Eric A. Kort ◽  
Colm Sweeney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Atmospheric Chemistry ◽  
Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Co2 Flux ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Ocean Study ◽  
Reactive Gases

Abstract The Southern Ocean plays a critical role in the global climate system by mediating atmosphere–ocean partitioning of heat and carbon dioxide. However, Earth system models are demonstrably deficient in the Southern Ocean, leading to large uncertainties in future air–sea CO2 flux projections under climate warming and incomplete interpretations of natural variability on interannual to geologic time scales. Here, we describe a recent aircraft observational campaign, the O2/N2 Ratio and CO2 Airborne Southern Ocean (ORCAS) study, which collected measurements over the Southern Ocean during January and February 2016. The primary research objective of the ORCAS campaign was to improve observational constraints on the seasonal exchange of atmospheric carbon dioxide and oxygen with the Southern Ocean. The campaign also included measurements of anthropogenic and marine biogenic reactive gases; high-resolution, hyperspectral ocean color imaging of the ocean surface; and microphysical data relevant for understanding and modeling cloud processes. In each of these components of the ORCAS project, the campaign has significantly expanded the amount of observational data available for this remote region. Ongoing research based on these observations will contribute to advancing our understanding of this climatically important system across a range of topics including carbon cycling, atmospheric chemistry and transport, and cloud physics. This article presents an overview of the scientific and methodological aspects of the ORCAS project and highlights early findings.

scholarly journals Sinking Diatom Assemblages as a Key Driver for Deep Carbon and Silicon Export in the Scotia Sea (Southern Ocean)

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Zúñiga ◽  
A. Sanchez-Vidal ◽  
M. M. Flexas ◽  
D. Carroll ◽  
M. M. Rufino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Sequestration ◽  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Sea Ice ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Model Simulation ◽  
Deep Ocean ◽  
Global Ocean ◽  
Carbon Export ◽  
Scotia Sea

Physical and biogeochemical processes in the Southern Ocean are fundamental for modulating global climate. In this context, a process-based understanding of how Antarctic diatoms control primary production and carbon export, and hence global-ocean carbon sequestration, has been identified as a scientific priority. Here we use novel sediment trap observations in combination with a data-assimilative ocean biogeochemistry model (ECCO-Darwin) to understand how environmental conditions trigger diatom ecology in the iron-fertilized southern Scotia Sea. We unravel the role of diatoms assemblage in controlling the biogeochemistry of sinking material escaping from the euphotic zone, and discuss the link between changes in upper-ocean environmental conditions and the composition of settling material exported from the surface to 1,000 m depth from March 2012 to January 2013. The combined analysis of in situ observations and model simulation suggests that an anomalous sea-ice episode in early summer 2012–2013 favored (via restratification due to sea-ice melt) an early massive bloom of Corethron pennatum that rapidly sank to depth. This event drove high biogenic silicon to organic carbon export ratios, while modulating the carbon and nitrogen isotopic signals of sinking organic matter reaching the deep ocean. Our findings highlight the role of diatom ecology in modulating silicon vs. carbon sequestration efficiency, a critical factor for determining the stoichiometric relationship of limiting nutrients in the Southern Ocean.

scholarly journals Attenuation of sinking particulate organic carbon flux through the mesopelagic ocean

2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (4) ◽  
pp. 1089-1094 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris M. Marsay ◽  
Richard J. Sanders ◽  
Stephanie A. Henson ◽  
Katsiaryna Pabortsava ◽  
Eric P. Achterberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Particulate Organic Carbon ◽  
Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Deep Ocean ◽  
Sediment Traps ◽  
Length Scale ◽  
Deep Sea Sediment ◽  
The North ◽  
Labile Fraction ◽  
Poc Flux

The biological carbon pump, which transports particulate organic carbon (POC) from the surface to the deep ocean, plays an important role in regulating atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations. We know very little about geographical variability in the remineralization depth of this sinking material and less about what controls such variability. Here we present previously unpublished profiles of mesopelagic POC flux derived from neutrally buoyant sediment traps deployed in the North Atlantic, from which we calculate the remineralization length scale for each site. Combining these results with corresponding data from the North Pacific, we show that the observed variability in attenuation of vertical POC flux can largely be explained by temperature, with shallower remineralization occurring in warmer waters. This is seemingly inconsistent with conclusions drawn from earlier analyses of deep-sea sediment trap and export flux data, which suggest lowest transfer efficiency at high latitudes. However, the two patterns can be reconciled by considering relatively intense remineralization of a labile fraction of material in warm waters, followed by efficient downward transfer of the remaining refractory fraction, while in cold environments, a larger labile fraction undergoes slower remineralization that continues over a longer length scale. Based on the observed relationship, future increases in ocean temperature will likely lead to shallower remineralization of POC and hence reduced storage of CO2 by the ocean.

scholarly journals Coccolithophore populations and their contribution to carbonate export during an annual cycle in the Australian sector of the Antarctic Zone

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrés S. Rigual Hernández ◽  
José A. Flores ◽  
Francisco J. Sierro ◽  
Miguel A. Fuertes ◽  
Lluïsa Cros ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Ocean Acidification ◽  
Deep Ocean ◽  
Sediment Traps ◽  
Emiliania Huxleyi ◽  
Global Ocean ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Allochthonous Species ◽  
Circumpolar Current ◽  
The Antarctic

Abstract. The Southern Ocean is experiencing rapid and relentless change in its physical and biogeochemical properties. The rate of warming of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current exceeds that of the global ocean, and the enhanced uptake of carbon dioxide is causing basin-wide ocean acidification. Observational data suggest that these changes are influencing the distribution and composition of pelagic plankton communities. Long-term and annual field observations on key environmental variables and organisms are a critical basis for predicting changes in Southern Ocean ecosystems. These observations are particularly needed, since high-latitude systems have been projected to experience the most severe impacts of ocean acidification and invasions of allochthonous species. Coccolithophores are the most prolific calcium carbonate producing phytoplankton group, playing an important role in Southern Ocean biogeochemical cycles. Satellite imagery has revealed elevated particulate inorganic carbon concentrations near the major circumpolar fronts of the Southern Ocean, that can be attributed to the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi. Recent studies have suggested changes during the last decades in the distribution and abundance of Southern Ocean coccolithophores. However, due to limited field observations, the distribution, diversity and state of coccolithophore populations in the Southern Ocean remain poorly characterized. We report here on seasonal variations in the abundance and composition of coccolithophore assemblages collected by two moored sediment traps deployed in the deep ocean (~ 2000 and 3700 m) in the Australian sector of the Antarctic Zone for one year in 2001–02. Additionally, seasonal changes in coccolith weights of E. huxleyi populations were estimated using circularly polarized micrographs analysed with C-Calcita software. Our findings indicate that (1) coccolithophore sinking assemblages were nearly monospecific for Emiliania huxleyi morphotype B/C in the Antarctic Zone waters in 2001–2002; (2) coccolith assemblages experienced weight and length reduction during the summer months; (3) the estimated annual coccolith weight of E. huxleyi at both sediment trap depths (2.11 ± 0.96 and 2.13 ± 0.90 pg at 2000 m and 3700 m) was consistent with previous studies for morphotype B/C in other Southern Ocean settings; (4) coccolithophores accounted for approximately 2–5 % of the annual, deep-ocean CaCO3 flux. Our results are the first annual record of coccolithophore abundance, composition and degree of calcification in the Antarctic Zone. They provide a baseline against which to monitor coccolithophorid responses to changes in environmental conditions expected for this region in coming decades.

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