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

长时间序列研究对于检验海洋群落中的时间变化的重要性被广泛接受。尽管季节性采样和测量揭示了深海生物过程的时间变异性，但如果没有在较长时间内对某些具有重要生物意义的过程进行“连续”记录，就很难理解这些群落运作的许多方面。该项目将对海底边界层群落进行长时间序列监测计划(2年)，使用延时摄影监测海底过程和颗粒通量测量，以估计进入海底边界层的食物供应。这种监测将提供一个时间框架，以便在加州当前上升流系统中的一个深底站对海底过程进行更密集的季节性测量，在该系统中，地面初级生产和深层颗粒有机物质通量具有很强的季节性。史密斯博士将讨论两个主要问题：1)进入海底边界层(BBL)的颗粒有机物(POM)的通量与碎屑在沉积物水界面的到达和停留之间是否存在时间关系(即耦合)？2)在分布、丰度、移动、以及大型底栖生物的营养状态和POM进入海底边界的通量和/或碎屑在沉积物-水界面的到达和停留？这项研究将增进我们对深海底栖边界层群落的功能及其在年际时间尺度上生物地球化学循环中的重要性的理解。

The importance of long time-series studies for examining temporal variation in marine communities is widely accepted. Although seasonal sampling and measurements have shed much light on the temporal variability of biological processes in the deep sea, it has been difficult to understand many aspects of the functioning of these communities without a "continuous" record of certain biologically significant processes over longer time periods. This project will conduct a long time-series monitoring program (2yrs) of a benthic boundary layer community using time-lapse photography to monitor sea floor processes and particulate flux measurements as an estimate of food supply entering the benthic boundary layer. Such monitoring will provide a temporal framework for more intensive seasonal measurements of benthic processes at a single deep bottom station in the California Current upwelling system where strong seasonality in primary production at the surface and in particulate organic matter (POM) flux at deep bottom depths is well established. Dr. Smith will address two major questions: 1) Is there a temporal relationship (that is a coupling) between the flux of particulate organic matter (POM) entering the benthic boundary layer (BBL) and the arrival and residence of detritus at the sediment water interface? 2) Is there a temporal relationship between the distribution, abundance, movements, and nutritional state of large bottom dwelling organisms and the flux of POM entering the BBL and/or the arrival and residence of detritus at the sediment-water interface? This study will improve our understanding of the functioning of deep-sea benthic boundary layer communities and their importance in biogeochemical cycling over interannual time scales.