Dragon kings of the deep sea

Author(s)
A.B. Bochdansky, Melissa A. Clouse, Gerhard Herndl
Abstract

Particles are the major vector for the transfer of carbon from the upper ocean to the deep sea. However, little is known about their abundance, composition and role at depths greater than 2000 m. We present the first number-size spectrum of bathy-and abyssopelagic particles to a depth of 5500 m based on surveys performed with a custom-made holographic microscope. The particle spectrum was unusual in that particles of several millimetres in length were almost 100 times more abundant than expected from the number spectrum of smaller particles, thereby meeting the definition of "dragon kings." Marine snow particles overwhelmingly contributed to the total particle volume (95-98%). Approximately 1/3 of the particles in the dragon-king size domain contained large amounts of transparent exopolymers with little ballast, which likely either make them neutrally buoyant or cause them to sink slowly. Dragon-king particles thus provide large volumes of unique microenvironments that may help to explain discrepancies in deep-sea biogeochemical budgets.

Organisation(s)
Functional and Evolutionary Ecology
External organisation(s)
Old Dominion University
Journal
Scientific Reports
Volume
6
No. of pages
7
ISSN
2045-2322
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/srep22633
Publication date
03-2016
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
106021 Marine biology
Keywords
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 14 - Life Below Water
Portal url
https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/dragon-kings-of-the-deep-sea(e598e4f7-b1cd-45bf-b889-180bec507508).html