Particle Transformations in the "Regeneration Zone": The 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：负责的生物是否占主导地位 后生动物或微生物，以及它们是否发生在较大的 将物质输送到深处的颗粒。皮尔斯卡恩博士， 银将进行为期2年的研究在蒙特雷湾， 可访问的，相对深水的网站，研究的作用， 微生物和浮游动物都参与了 颗粒1 mm。 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）， 作为此类研究的模型系统。她计划（1）测量 （2）确定其聚集体的大小和丰度; 化学性质和相关的生物群落，（3） 衡量各社区与再生有关的活动， 粒子，（4）比较和粒子相关的泛化 与该地区沉积物收集器测得的速率相比较。 为这些 测量，她将使用现场调查与一个Romotely操作 车辆（雪）和海洋雪相机，各种采样 设备操作的，和一系列的实验， 在船上和实验室培养的天然样品。 在 第二年，Pilskaln博士横切加州洋流， 是否有非常大的聚集体， 再生中心到蒙特雷湾，发生在重要的 离岸更远的数字。 这些结果将增加 了解中层水矿化的生物学和 粒子在这个过程中可以发挥的作用。

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. Pilskaln, together with 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 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. Pilskaln 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.