The Role of Sarcodine-Algal Symbiotic Associations in Upper Ocean Carbon and Nitrogen Cycles

三类共生生物(棘棘虫、多囊放射虫和有孔虫)是上层海洋群落的重要组成部分。以往对这些分类群生态的研究大多集中在单个物种或有限的物种群上。迈克尔斯博士和他的同事们将同时研究这三种原生动物整个组合的生态作用。他们的研究检验了两个假设：1.在营养不良的海洋环境中，棘藻、多囊放射虫和有孔虫整个种群中的共生体初级生产量将占总初级生产量的很大一部分，并将主导大型细胞的生产量(操作上定义为大于74um的细胞)。2.与其悬浮生物量相比，Sarcodine将是真光层下沉物质中不成比例的重要组成部分。通过大量的产量测量和潜水员采集的产量测量相结合的方法来确定含有共生体的结节石斑鱼整个种群的共生体产量，以评估这种产量相对于总初级产量的重要性。这些浮游生物抗议对垂直物质通量的重要性是通过同时测量肉豆的储量和下沉出口的速度来估计的。这些测量与全球海洋观测系统在百慕大的时间序列研究(每年参加两次航次)相协调，使调查人员能够从大的、季节性的角度来观察他们的结果。

The three classes of symbiont-bearing sarcodines (acantharia, polycystine radiolaria and foraminifera) are a conspicuous component of upper ocean communities. Most of the previous research on the ecology of these taxa has been concentrated on a single species or limited group of species. Dr. Michaels and colleagues will simultaneously examine the ecological role of the entire assemblage of these three protozoa. Their research examines two hypotheses: 1. In nutrient-poor oceanic environments, the symbiont primary production in the entire population of acantharia, polycystine radiolaria and foraminifera will represent a significant fraction of the total primary production and will dominate the production by large cells (operationally defined as cells larger than 74um). 2. Sarcodines will be a disproportionately important component of sinking material from the euphotic zone compared with their suspended biomass. Symbiont production rates of the entire population of symbiont-bearing sarcodines are determined through a combination of large volume and diver-collected production measurements to evaluate the importance of this production relative to total primary production. The significance of these planktonic protests for the vertical flux of material is estimated by the concurrent measurement of both the stocks of sarcodines and the rate of sinking export. These measurements are coordinated with the GOFS Time-Series Study at Bermuda (participation in two cruises per year), which enables the investigators to view their results from a large, seasonal perspective.