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Increased appendicularian zooplankton alter carbon cycling under warmer more acidified ocean conditions
Author(s) -
Winder Monika,
Bouquet JeanMarie,
Rafael Bermúdez J.,
Berger Stella A.,
Hansen Thomas,
Brandes Jay,
Sazhin Andrey F.,
Nejstgaard Jens C.,
Båmstedt Ulf,
Jakobsen Hans H.,
Dutz Jörg,
Frischer Marc E.,
Troedsson Christofer,
Thompson Eric M.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.1002/lno.10516
Subject(s) - zooplankton , biogeochemical cycle , carbon cycle , environmental science , water column , cycling , ecosystem , marine snow , carbon fibers , oceanography , climate change , microbial loop , ecology , food web , biology , geography , materials science , archaeology , geology , composite number , composite material
Anthropogenic atmospheric loading of CO 2 raises concerns about combined effects of increasing ocean temperature and acidification, on biological processes. In particular, the response of appendicularian zooplankton to climate change may have significant ecosystem implications as they can alter biogeochemical cycling compared to classical copepod dominated food webs. However, the response of appendicularians to multiple climate drivers and effect on carbon cycling are still not well understood. Here, we investigated how gelatinous zooplankton (appendicularians) affect carbon cycling of marine food webs under conditions predicted by future climate scenarios. Appendicularians performed well in warmer conditions and benefited from low pH levels, which in turn altered the direction of carbon flow. Increased appendicularians removed particles from the water column that might otherwise nourish copepods by increasing carbon transport to depth from continuous discarding of filtration houses and fecal pellets. This helps to remove CO 2 from the atmosphere, and may also have fisheries implications.