Benthic Meiofauna and Macrofaunal Larvae on Marine Snow

海雪在沿海水域中无处不在且丰富，其下沉速度比其组成颗粒更快，并且其成分与底栖生物的絮状层相似。 一项初步研究表明，小型底栖动物和大型底栖动物的幼体在水体中时与海雪有关。 该项目将通过测试以下假设来建立在初步研究的基础上：1）底栖小型底栖动物/幼虫与海洋雪之间的关联取决于中上层小型底栖动物/幼虫的组成和发育阶段、一天中的时间和底部高度。 2) 底栖小型动物/幼虫在接触时主动进入海洋雪。 3) 小型动物/幼虫影响海洋雪的形成和分解。 这项研究将有助于我们了解底栖生物浮游存在的生物学和适应性价值、影响这些生物下沉和沉积的过程以及底栖-中上层交换。

Marine snow is ubiquitous and abundant in coastal waters, sinks faster than its constituent particles, and is similar in composition to the flocculent layer of the benthos. An initial study suggests that meiofauna and competent larvae of benthic macrofauna, when in the water column, are associated with marine snow. This project will build on the initial study by testing the following hypotheses: 1) The association between benthic meiofauna/larvae and marine snow is dependent on the pelagic abundance, composition and developmental stage of meiofauna/larvae, the time of day, and height of the bottom. 2) Benthic meiofauna/larvae actively enter marine snow upon contact. 3) Meiofauna/larvae affect the formation and breakdown of marine snow. This research will contribute to our understanding of the biology and adaptive value of the planktonic existence of benthic organisms, processes affecting sinking and deposition of these organisms, and benthic-pelagic exchange.