Evaluating Impacts of Predation by Large, Motile Epifauna on Macrofauna and Meiofauna in the Deep Sea: A Test of Cage Performance

Thistle和Eckman尽管其概念的重要性，捕食作为深海社区的组织力量基本上是未经研究的。 虽然已知有各种物种是深海的捕食者，但本研究的重点是大型能动的表层动物，因为它们应该是重要的捕食者，而且有些物种似乎容易受到用笼子进行实验操作的影响。 本研究分为两部分。 本提案要求支持调查深海网箱的性能。 有了所获得的知识，我们将提出一个后续的调查捕食者的影响进行实验充分免费的笼子。 这些调查的结果应可广泛应用，因为大型、能动的海洋底栖动物出现在大多数深海群落中。

Thistle and Eckman Despite its conceptual importance, predation as an organizing force in deep-sea communities is essentially unstudied. Although a variety of species are known to be predators in the deep sea, the large, motile epifauna are the focus of this study because they should be important predators and some species appear to be susceptible to experimental manipulations with cages. The research consists of two parts. The present proposal requests support to investigate cage performance in the deep sea. With the knowledge gained, we will propose a follow-up investigation of predator effects by conducting experiments sufficiency free of cage. The results of these investigations should be widely applicable because large, motile epifauna occur in most deep-sea communities.