Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

SS12 To Sink or Not to Sink: The Role of Zooplankton for Export and Retention of Fecal Pellets and Aggregates (Environmental Connections)

Date: Friday, February 16, 2001, Time: 8:30:00 AM

Location: Aztec

Turner, J, T, Univ. Massachusetts Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, MA, USA, jturner@umassd.edu

ZOOPLANKTON FECAL PELLETS, ORGANIC AGGREGATES AND SINKING PHYTOPLANKTON: UPDATE AND REVIEW

Zooplankton fecal pellets have long been considered important in the vertical flux in the sea. Turner and Ferrante (1979) reviewed fecal pellet ecology up to that time, but this review preceeded most of the numerous sediment trap studies that have occurred in many locations since the early 1980's. Sediment traps revealed that not only fecal pellets, but also various types of organic aggregates and sinking phytoplankton blooms can be important components of the vertical flux. There have also been additional studies on fecal pellet contents, sinking and decomposition rates, and coprophagy of fecal pellets produced by various zooplankters, and that these parameters can vary in relation to zooplankton diets. Such developments will be reviewed, and suggestions will be offered as to additional aspects of fecal pellet ecology needing further investigation.

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Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

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