Benthic-pelagic coupling in a deep-sea benthic community
In: Nature: International Weekly Journal of Science. Nature Publishing Group: London. ISSN 0028-0836; e-ISSN 1476-4687, more
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| Keywords |
Benthic communities
Deep sea
Marine/Coastal |
| Abstract |
Seasonal productivity in shallow waters elicits a seasonal pat-tern of activity in the benthic community. This implies a very rapid response to fluctuations in the food supply to the benthos. Although there is a seasonal component to oxygen consumption on the deep-sea floor and a rapid response of epibenthic foraminifera and other microorganisms to influx of phytodetritus, the timescale of the response of organisms that inhabit the sediment itself has not been established. Here I present evidence that the response by a deep-sea benthic community to a pulse of natural organic matter occurs within days. In terms of activity and biomass, this rapid response was evident to a sediment depth of 9 cm. |
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