Vertical connectivity in deep-sea food webs

Deep-sea food webs remain poorly described despite their importance in the transfer and sequestration of organic carbon from the euphotic zone. The vertical flux of phytodetritus and its effects on benthic processes has been well characterized relative to other pathways. This presentation will evaluate the importance of sinking fish and squid carcasses to the demersal fish community by examining diets and temporal changes in population structure.   Another mechanism to transport energy and organic matter to and from the deep sea is vertical migration of animals. Results describing the vertical structure of the pelagic food web will be presented.  They are derived from both conventional (isotopes and fatty acids) and novel methods (trace metals, amino acid specific isotope analysis) and are providing new insights in to the connectivity between the surface ocean and mesopelagic.

Speaker: Jeffrey Drazen, University of Hawaii