Benthic Meiofauna and Macrofaunal Larvae on Marine Snow

海洋雪在沿海沃茨随处可见， 比组成粒子的速度快， 将组合物添加到底栖生物的絮凝层。 初始 研究表明，小型底栖动物和底栖动物的有能力幼虫 大型底栖动物，当在水柱中时，与海洋 雪 该项目将通过测试建立在初步研究的基础上 以下假设：1）底栖动物之间的联系 小型底栖生物/幼体和海洋雪取决于浮游生物的 丰度、组成和发育阶段 小型底栖动物/幼虫、一天中的时间和底部的高度。 （二） 底栖小型底栖动物/幼虫接触海洋雪后会主动进入雪中。 3)小型底栖生物/幼体影响海洋生物的形成和分解 雪 这项研究将有助于我们了解 底栖动物浮游生存的生物学和适应价值 生物，影响这些生物的下沉和沉积的过程 生物和底栖-中上层交换。

Marine snow is ubiquitous and abundant in coastal waters, sinks faster than its constituent particles, and is similar in composition to the flocculent layer of the benthos. An initial study suggests that meiofauna and competent larvae of benthic macrofauna, when in the water column, are associated with marine snow. This project will build on the initial study by testing the following hypotheses: 1) The association between benthic meiofauna/larvae and marine snow is dependent on the pelagic abundance, composition and developmental stage of meiofauna/larvae, the time of day, and height of the bottom. 2) Benthic meiofauna/larvae actively enter marine snow upon contact. 3) Meiofauna/larvae affect the formation and breakdown of marine snow. This research will contribute to our understanding of the biology and adaptive value of the planktonic existence of benthic organisms, processes affecting sinking and deposition of these organisms, and benthic-pelagic exchange.