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Diel vertical migration bySalpa aspera and its potential for large-scale particulate organic matter transport to the deep-sea

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Abstract

In mid-summer 1975 throughout the Western Slope Water of the North Atlantic Ocean, massive numbers ofSalpa aspera performed a diel vertical migration of at least 800 m. This resulted in a movement of 85 to 90% of the total zooplankton biomass out of the upper 500 m during the day. Fecal pellet production and losses from this salp population were estimated to contribute approximately 12 mg C m-2 day-1 to the deep planktonic and benthic populations. If all this organic matter reached the deep-sea floor, it would represent over 100% of the daily deep-sea benthic infauna energy requirements.

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Communicated by M.R. Tripp, Newark

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Wiebe, P.H., Madin, L.P., Haury, L.R. et al. Diel vertical migration bySalpa aspera and its potential for large-scale particulate organic matter transport to the deep-sea. Mar. Biol. 53, 249–255 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00952433

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