Slow particle remineralization, rather than suppressed disaggregation,
drives efficient flux transfer through the Eastern Tropical North
Pacific Oxygen Deficient Zone
Jacob Cram
Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, MD, USA., Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, MD, USA., Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, MD, USA., Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, MD, USA., Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, MD, USA., Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, MD, USA.
Corresponding Author:[email protected]
Author ProfileClara Fuchsman
Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, MD, USA., Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, MD, USA., Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, MD, USA., Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, MD, USA., Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, MD, USA., Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, MD, USA.
Author ProfileMegan Duffy
School of Oceanography, University of Washington Seattle, Seattle, WA, USA., School of Oceanography, University of Washington Seattle, Seattle, WA, USA., School of Oceanography, University of Washington Seattle, Seattle, WA, USA., School of Oceanography, University of Washington Seattle, Seattle, WA, USA., School of Oceanography, University of Washington Seattle, Seattle, WA, USA., School of Oceanography, University of Washington Seattle, Seattle, WA, USA.
Author ProfileRachel Lekanoff
College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA., College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA., College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA., College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA., College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA., College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA.
Author ProfileJacquelyn Neibauer
School of Oceanography, University of Washington Seattle, Seattle, WA, USA., School of Oceanography, University of Washington Seattle, Seattle, WA, USA., School of Oceanography, University of Washington Seattle, Seattle, WA, USA., School of Oceanography, University of Washington Seattle, Seattle, WA, USA., School of Oceanography, University of Washington Seattle, Seattle, WA, USA., School of Oceanography, University of Washington Seattle, Seattle, WA, USA.
Author ProfileShirley Leung
School of Oceanography, University of Washington Seattle, Seattle, WA, USA., School of Oceanography, University of Washington Seattle, Seattle, WA, USA., School of Oceanography, University of Washington Seattle, Seattle, WA, USA., School of Oceanography, University of Washington Seattle, Seattle, WA, USA., School of Oceanography, University of Washington Seattle, Seattle, WA, USA., School of Oceanography, University of Washington Seattle, Seattle, WA, USA.
Author ProfileKlaus B. Huebert
Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, MD, USA., Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, MD, USA., Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, MD, USA., Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, MD, USA., Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, MD, USA., Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, MD, USA.
Author ProfileThomas Weber
School of Arts and Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA., School of Arts and Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA., School of Arts and Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA., School of Arts and Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA., School of Arts and Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA., School of Arts and Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA.
Author ProfileDaniele Bianchi
Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA., Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA., Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA., Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA., Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA., Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Author ProfileNatalya Evans
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA., Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA., Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA., Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA., Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA., Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Author ProfileRichard Keil
School of Oceanography, University of Washington Seattle, Seattle, WA, USA., School of Oceanography, University of Washington Seattle, Seattle, WA, USA., School of Oceanography, University of Washington Seattle, Seattle, WA, USA., School of Oceanography, School of Oceanography, School of Oceanography
Author ProfileAndrew McDonnell
University of Alaska Fairbanks, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences Fairbanks, AK, USA., University of Alaska Fairbanks, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences Fairbanks, AK, USA., University of Alaska Fairbanks, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences Fairbanks, AK, USA., University of Alaska Fairbanks, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences Fairbanks, AK, USA., University of Alaska Fairbanks, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences Fairbanks, AK, USA., University of Alaska Fairbanks, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences Fairbanks, AK, USA.
Author ProfileAbstract
Models and observations suggest that particle flux attenuation is lower
across the mesopelagic zone of anoxic environments compared to oxic
environments. Flux attenuation is controlled by microbial metabolism as
well as aggregation and disaggregation by zooplankton, all of which also
shape the relative abundance of differently sized particles. Observing
and modeling particle spectra can provide information about the
contributions of these processes. We measured particle size spectrum
profiles at one station in the oligotrophic Eastern Tropical North
Pacific Oxygen Deficient Zone (ETNP ODZ) using an underwater vision
profiler (UVP), a high-resolution camera that counts and sizes
particles. Measurements were taken at different times of day, over the
course of a week. Comparing these data to particle flux measurements
from sediment traps collected over the same time-period allowed us to
constrain the particle size to flux relationship, and to generate highly
resolved depth and time estimates of particle flux rates. We found that
particle flux attenuated very little throughout the anoxic water column,
and at some time-points appeared to increase. Comparing our observations
to model predictions suggested that particles of all sizes remineralize
more slowly in the ODZ than in oxic waters, and that large particles
disaggregate into smaller particles, primarily between the base of the
photic zone and 500 m. Acoustic measurements of multiple size classes of
organisms suggested that many organisms migrated, during the day, to the
region with high particle disaggregation. Our data suggest that
diel-migrating organisms both actively transport biomass and
disaggregate particles in the ODZ core.
