Mechanistic Controls of Carbon Flux by Mesozooplankton: A Joint Global Ocean Flux Study Synthesis

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*** 9725976 Roman As part of the JGOFS Synthesis and Modeling Initiative, Drs. Roman and Dam will synthesize JGOFS mesozooplankton research. A major objective of the JGOFS Synthesis efforts will be to determine how food web structure influences carbon cycling within the euphoric and the sinking carbon flux. Mesozooplankton grazing (consumption of phytoplankton and protozoa), sloppy feeding (DOM release), fecal pellet production and downward carbon transport due to diel vertical migrators (part of carbon export) are essential elements of this analysis. Although this proposal focuses on mesozooplankton, the our efforts will be collaborative with other JGOFS synthesis efforts. They will participate with other groups who are synthesizing and modeling biological control of biogeochemical fluxes. Using the JGOFS datasets from the Sargasso Sea (ZOOSWAT), North Atlantic (NABE), Equatorial Pacific (EqPac), Arabian Sea (ASPS) and Southern Ocean (AESOPS, when available), as well as other appropriate data (i.e. from VERTEX and SUPER) they will examine the predictive relationships between mesozooplankton biomass, grazing and fecal pellet production with phytoplankton biomass (by size), protozoa biomass, total primary production (by size), new production and export flux. The results will provide essential parameters for realistic models of carbon cycling in the euphoric zone. ***