cover image: The microzooplankton trophic link: - can conventional understanding of food web structure explain mesozooplankton biomass variability in the oceans?

The microzooplankton trophic link: - can conventional understanding of food web structure explain mesozooplankton biomass variability in the oceans?

22 Mar 2024

(2020) ZCR Calculations 5 ZCR = [S (Metabolism f(size, T°C) + Production f(size, T°C))]/AE i = 1 where i = size fractions, AE = absorption efficiency (0.70) Mean Day/Night size-fract biomass from upper 150-200 m, mean T°C of EZ Migrant (Night–Day) size-fract biomass, ½ day at mean T°C of 300-500 m This produces MesoZoo with mean GGE = 23.6% MesoZoo GGE Synthesis = 26% (Straile 1997) Special Circum. [...] protistan GGE (Straile1997) ZCR estimates for different systems BATS and HOT data divided into quartiles of lower to higher PrimProd, averaged The quartiles capture the ~2X seasonal and ~2X secular MesoZoo biomass increases observed in each system SEM uncertainties are plotted but smaller than the symbols ZCR estimates for different systems Three subtropical experimental sites are added to the BAT. [...] (2011) Net µ AMBIENT MicroZoo contribution to ZCR Most experiments show that MicroZoo consume a high percentage of daily Prim Prod Exceptions: Coastal upwelling sites, Salp bloom MicroZoo overwhelmed, controlled by predators Full data average = 70.0 ± 3.6% Calbet & Landry (2004) = 67% MicroZoo contribution to ZCR 70% transfer loss Full data average = 70.0 ± 3.6% Full data average = 58.7 ± 4.0% Cal. [...] In general: Bact Prod ≈ 10% Prim Prod Half lost to viruses One trophic transfer = 1.5% Prim Prod Two trophic transfers = 0.45% Prim Prod Williams (1981) Other contributions to ZCR: Carnivory 6 Gulf of Mexico 5 4 % Carnivore DW <1 mm = 13 ± 1% A >1 mm = 69 ± 4% 3 0.2-0.5 0.5-1 1-2 2-5 5+ mm MesoZoo Size Fraction (mm) In a balanced system, carnivory cannot exceed MesoZoo production = 23.6% of ZCR, a. [...] d15 15Nδ (pNpt) Conventional interpretation explains trophic support of MesoZoo Poor systems Bloom systems greater MicroZoo greater MesoZoo contribution contribution Five meet or MicroZoo exceed MesoZoo 100% ZCR with only Micro and MesoZoo Others meet ZCR with carnivory Summary Points Liberal assumptions Healthy, actively growing zooplankton Metabolism = 1.5 X Ikeda (1985), with organic excret.

Authors

Michael R. Landry

Pages
22
Published in
Canada

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