Temporal Variation in Deep-Sea Benthic Boundary Layer Communities: Long Time-Series Measurements

长时间序列研究对于检查海洋群落的时间变化的重要性已被广泛接受。尽管季节性采样和测量已经揭示了深海生物过程的时间变异性，但如果没有长时间内某些重要的生物过程的“连续”记录，就很难理解这些群落功能的许多方面。本项目将对一个底栖边界层群落进行长时间序列监测（2年），使用延时摄影来监测海底过程和颗粒通量测量，以估计进入底栖边界层的食物供应。这种监测将提供一个时间框架，以便在加利福尼亚洋流上涌系统的一个深底站对底栖生物过程进行更密集的季节性测量，在这个系统中，地表初级生产和深底深度的颗粒有机物（POM）通量具有很强的季节性。史密斯博士将解决两个主要问题：1)进入底栖边界层（BBL）的颗粒有机物质（POM）的通量与沉积物水界面碎屑的到达和停留之间是否存在时间关系（即耦合）？2)大型底栖生物的分布、丰度、运动和营养状况与进入BBL的POM通量和/或碎屑在沉积物-水界面的到达和停留之间是否存在时间关系？本研究将提高我们对深海底栖生物边界层群落功能及其在年际时间尺度生物地球化学循环中的重要性的认识。

The importance of long time-series studies for examining temporal variation in marine communities is widely accepted. Although seasonal sampling and measurements have shed much light on the temporal variability of biological processes in the deep sea, it has been difficult to understand many aspects of the functioning of these communities without a "continuous" record of certain biologically significant processes over longer time periods. This project will conduct a long time-series monitoring program (2yrs) of a benthic boundary layer community using time-lapse photography to monitor sea floor processes and particulate flux measurements as an estimate of food supply entering the benthic boundary layer. Such monitoring will provide a temporal framework for more intensive seasonal measurements of benthic processes at a single deep bottom station in the California Current upwelling system where strong seasonality in primary production at the surface and in particulate organic matter (POM) flux at deep bottom depths is well established. Dr. Smith will address two major questions: 1) Is there a temporal relationship (that is a coupling) between the flux of particulate organic matter (POM) entering the benthic boundary layer (BBL) and the arrival and residence of detritus at the sediment water interface? 2) Is there a temporal relationship between the distribution, abundance, movements, and nutritional state of large bottom dwelling organisms and the flux of POM entering the BBL and/or the arrival and residence of detritus at the sediment-water interface? This study will improve our understanding of the functioning of deep-sea benthic boundary layer communities and their importance in biogeochemical cycling over interannual time scales.