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.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Ahlstrom, E.H. and J.R. Thrailkill: Plankton volume loss with time of preservation. Rep. Calif. coop. ocean. Fish. Invest.9, 57–93 (1963)
Banse, K.: On the vertical distribution of zooplankton in the sea. Prog. Oceanogr.2, 53–125 (1964)
Berner, L.D.: Thaliacea. Calif. coop. ocean. Fish. Invest. Atlas8, 1–322 (1967)
Brattström, H.: OnSalpa fusiformis Cuvier (Thaliacea) in Norwegian coastal and offshore waters. Sarsia48, 71–90 (1972)
Cacchione, D.A., G.T. Rowe and A. Malahoff: Submersible investigation of outer Hudson submarine canyon.In: Sedimentation in canyons, fans and trenches, pp 42–50. Ed. by D.J. Stanley and G. Kelling Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania: Dowden, Hutchinson & Ross 1978
Dayton, P.K. and R.R. Hessler: Role of biological disturbance in maintaining diversity in the deep sea. Deep-Sea Res.19, 199–208 (1972)
Enright, J.T.: Diurnal vertical migration: adaptive significance and timing. Part I. Selective advantages: a metabolic model. Limnol. Oceanogr.22, 856–872 (1977)
Foxton, P.: The distribution and life-history ofSalpa thompsoni Foxton with observations on a related speciesSalpa gerlachei Foxton. Discovery Rep.34, 1–116 (1966)
Franqueville, C.: Macroplancton profond (invertébrés) de la Mediterranée nord-occidentale. Téthys3, 11–55 (1971)
Grassle, J.F. and H.L. Sanders: Life histories and the role of disturbance. Deep-Sea Res.20, 643–659 (1973)
Hamner, W.M.: Underwater observations of bluewater plankton: logistics, techniques, and safety procedures for divers at sea. Limnol. Oceanogr.20, 1045–1051 (1975)
Harbison, G.R. and R.B. Campenot: Effects of temperature on the swimming of salps (Tunicata, Thaliacea): implications for vertical migration. Limnol. Oceanogr. (In press)
— and R.W. Gilmer: The feeding rates of the pelagic tunicatePegea confederata and two other salps. Limnol. Oceanogr.21, 517–528 (1976)
Hardy, A.C. and E.R. Gunther: The plankton of the South Georgia whaling grounds and adjacent waters, 1926–1927. ‘Discovery’ Rep.11, 1–456 (1935)
Mackie, G.O., and Q. Bone: Locomotion and propagated skin impulses in salps (Tunicata: Thaliacea). Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole153, 180–197 (1977)
Mackintosh, N.A.: Distribution of the macroplankton in the Atlantic sector of the Antarctic. ‘Discovery’ Rep.9, 65–160 (1934)
Madin, L.P.: Field studies on the biology of salps (Tunicata: Thaliacea), 208 pp. Ph.D. Thesis, University of California, Davis 1974a
— Field observations on the feeding behavior of salps (Tunicata: Thaliacea). Mar. Biol.25, 143–147 (1974b)
Marlowe, C.J., and C.B. Miller: Patterns of vertical distribution and migration of zooplankton at ocean station “P”. Limnol. Oceanogr.20, 824–844 (1975)
McAllister, C.D.: Zooplankton studies at Ocean Weather Station “P” in the northeast Pacific Ocean. J. Fish. Res. Bd Can.18, 1–29 (1961)
Smith, K.L., Jr., and J.M. Teal: Deep-sea benthic community respiration: anin situ study at 1850 meters. Science, N.Y.179, 282–283 (1973)
Thompson, H.: Pelagic tunicates in the plankton of southeastern Australian waters and their place in oceanographical studies. Bull. Coun. scient. ind. Res., Melb.153, 1–56 (1942)
Vinogradov, M.E.: Vertical distribution of oceanic zooplankton, [In Russ.] 319 pp. Moscow: Isdatel' Stvo Nauka 1968. (Translated by Israel Programme for Scientific Translations, 1970)
Wiebe, P.H., K.H. Burt, S. Boyd and A.W. Morton: A multiple opening/closing net and environmental sensing system for sampling zooplankton. J. mar. Res.34, 313–326 (1976)
Youngbluth, M.J.: Vertical distribution and diel migration of euphausiids in the central waters of the eastern South Pacific. Deep-Sea Res.22, 519–536 (1975)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by M.R. Tripp, Newark
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
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
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00952433