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

长期的时间序列研究已经广泛地改变了我们的基本 了解深海的生物过程。 我们有 在南极洲的一个深海地点建立了一个长时间序列站， 东N太平洋（4 100米深处），过去三年， 一直在测量颗粒物通量， 用延时摄影来监测海底。 我们 有 发现了一个很强的时间关系 的 颗粒物质进入海底边界层， 碎屑聚集体到达和停留在海底。 这些碎屑聚集体的停留时间长达六个月 与此同时， 海底巨型动物 我们的研究结果表明， 存在 介于近底层中上层和底层之间 流程. 然而，最重要的问题仍然是如何 以及浮游和底栖过程的时间尺度 在深海中，特别是在 我们在过去三年中观察到的年际变化 年 我们建议研究大洋性 有机物质的供应及其被底栖生物利用 利用碎屑聚集体的现场测量的社区 叠加在一个持续的时间序列研究监测 底栖边界层 具体而言，我们建议解决 三个问题。 1)碎屑聚集体的来源是什么 季节性地出现在海底 2)有多重要 碎屑聚集体作为沉积物群落活动的场所？ 第三章 碎屑聚集体作为底栖生物的位置有多重要 巨型动物活动 这项研究将增进我们对 海洋和海底过程之间的耦合， 目前对年际地球化学循环的认识 在深海中的时间尺度。

Long time-series studies have extensively altered our basic understanding of biological processes in the deep ocean. We have established a long time-series station at an abyssal site in the eastern N. Pacific (4100 m depth) and, over the past three years, have been measuring particulate matter flux while concurrently monitoring the sea floor with time-lapse photography. We have found a strong temporal relationship between the flux of particulate matter entering the benthic boundary layer and the arrival and residence of detrital aggregates on the sea floor. The residence of these detrital aggregates spans a six-month period and coincides with increased abundance and movements of the epibenthic megafauna. Our results to date suggest coupling exists between near-bottom pelagic and benthic processes. However, the most important questions still remain regarding how and on what time scales the pelagic and benthic processes are coupled in the deep sea, especially in the context of the interannual variability we have observed over the past three years. We propose to study the coupling between the pelagic supply of organic matter and its utilization by the benthic community using in situ measurements of detrital aggregates superimposed on a continuing time-series study of monitoring the benthic boundary layer. Specifically, we propose to address three questions. 1) What is the source of detrital aggregates observed seasonally on the sea floor? 2) How important are detrital aggregates as sites of sediment community activity? 3) How important are detrital aggregates as sited of epibenthic megafaunal activity? This study will improve our understanding of the coupling between pelagic and benthic processes and broaden current perceptions of biogeochemical cycling over interannual time scales in the deep ocean.