Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

CS04 Benthic-Pelagic Coupling: Seasonality, Pulses, and Flux

Date: Thursday, February 15, 2001, Time: 2:00:00 PM

Location: Mesilla

Smith, Jr., K, L, Scripps Inst. of Oceanography, La Jolla, USA, ksmith@ucsd.edu

Baldwin, R, J, Scripps Inst. of Oceanography, La Jolla, USA, rbaldwin@ucsd.edu

Karl, D, M, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, USA, dkarl@soest.hawaii.edu

Boetius, A, , Max Planck Inst. for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany, aboetius@postgate.mpi-bremen

BENTHIC COMMUNITY RESPONSES TO SEASONAL PULSES IN PELAGIC FOOD SUPPLY: CENTRAL NORTH PACIFIC GYRE

Time-series measurements of particulate carbon and nitrogen fluxes, sediment community composition and sediment community oxygen consumption (SCOC) were measured at the Hawaii Ocean Time-series station (Sta. ALOHA, 4800 m depth) between December 1997 and January 1999. Particulate carbon and nitrogen fluxes at 4000 m (800 mab) peaked in late August and September 1998. Surface sediment organic carbon, nitrogen, chlorophyll-a and phaeopigments significantly increased in September, corresponding to the increased particulate fluxes. Bacterial abundance was highest in November, while protozoans and metazoans were most abundant in September. SCOC significantly rose from a low in February to a peak in September corresponding to peaks in sediment bacteria and infaunal abundance. The pulse of particulate matter to the sea floor in September stimulates sediment community activity, linking pelagic food supply with benthic processes in the oligotrophic North Pacific gyre.

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Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

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