Particle Transformation in the 'generation Zone': Biology and Chemistry of Mesopelagic Aggregates

海洋表面沃茨中合成的大多数有机物是 返回到上部500 m内的无机成分，或 “再生区。“海洋学家将这些化学物质 主要转化为生物体。然而令人惊讶的 关于生物学的了解很少， 透光层：负责的生物体是否 主要是后生动物或微生物， 更大的颗粒将物质输送到深处。 博士 银将进行为期2年的研究在蒙特雷湾， 可访问的，比较深水的网站，研究的作用， 微生物和深水站点，以研究两者的作用 微生物和浮游动物在颗粒物化中的作用 1毫米。利用现场观测和 实验室测量，她将研究丰富的 海洋雪颗粒和非常大的聚集体（m大小）， 可以作为此类研究的模型系统。 她打算（1） 测量聚集体的大小和丰度，（2）确定 它们的化学性质和相关的生物群落。 (3)衡量社区与再生有关的活动 （4）比较和粒子相关 与沉积物捕集器测量结果相比， 该地区 对于这些测量，她将使用实地调查 一个浪漫的操作车辆（ROMOTELY OPERATED Vehicle）和一个海洋雪 相机，各种采样装置从操作的相机， 以及一系列的实验， 在船上和实验室里。 在第二年，银博士 横切加州洋流以了解 大的聚集体，假设是再生的， 中心到蒙特雷湾， 离岸 这些结果将增加对 生物学的中层水矿化和作用， 粒子可以在这个过程中发挥作用。

Most organic matter synthesized in surface waters of the sea is returned to inorganic constituents within the upper 500 m, or "regeneration zone." Oceanographers attribute these chemical transformations mostly to living organisms. Yet surprisingly little is known about the biology of remineralization below the euphotic zone: whether the responsible organisms are dominantly metazoan or microbial and whether or not they occur on the larger particles that deliver material to depth. Dr. Silver will conduct a 2-year study in Monterey Bay, and accessible, Comparatively deep water site, to study the role of both microbes and deep water site, to study the role of both microbes and zooplankton in the remineralization of particles 1mm. Using a combination of in situ observations and laboratory measurements, she will study both the abundant marine snow particles and very large aggregates (m size) that can serve as model systems for such studies. She plans to (1) measure the size and abundance of the aggregates, (2) determine their chemical properties and associated living communities. (3) measure regeneration-related activities of the communities on the particles, and (4) compare and particle-related remineralization rates to those measured by sediment traps in the area. For these measurements, she will use field surveys with a Romotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) and a Marine Snow Camera, a variety of sampling devices operated from the ROV, and a series of experiments on natural samples incubated on shipboard and in the laboratory. In year 2, Dr. Silver transects the California Current to learn whether the very large aggregates, which are hypothesized to be regeneration centers to Monterey Bay, occur in significant numbers further offshore. These results will increase the understanding of the biology of midwater remineralization and the role that particles can play in the process.