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Items tagged with: plankton
In marine systems where high nutrients lead to #hypoxia (low oxygen), it is commonly thought animals must avoid these zones - wrongly. Many types of #zooplankton seek refuge from predation in low oxygen layers in lakes and oceans. This is quite relevant to the #carbon pump off Peru because mesopelagic zooplankton, including Euphausiid #krill can graze on algae sinking in these zones, and produce rapidly sinking fecal pellets. #Climate
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https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-023-01140-6
Hypoxia-tolerant zooplankton may reduce biological carbon pump efficiency in the Humboldt current system off Peru - Communications Earth & Environment
Grazing of sinking particles by hypoxia-tolerant zooplankton likely reduces biological carbon pump efficiency in the Oxygen Minimum Zone off Peru, suggest analysis of drifting sediment trap samples and in situ imaging observations.Nature
#Viruses of #Plankton: On the Edge of the Viral Frontier
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/1/31
Viruses of Plankton: On the Edge of the Viral Frontier
The field of aquatic viral ecology has continued to evolve rapidly over the last three decades [...]MDPI
Rising temperatures could transform plankton and other tiny aquatic organisms into a huge source of #carbon #emissions, a little-known—and potentially catastrophic—climate tipping point that could accelerate #globalwarming.
A study, published Thursday in Functional Ecology, found that rising temperatures cause a sudden shift in these microbes’ eating habits, flipping them from carbon absorbers to carbon emitters.
https://grist.org/science/plankton-climate-tipping-point-carbon-emissions/
Another climate tipping point to worry about: Plankton
Rising temperatures could turn one of the world's most common organisms into a major source of carbon emissions.Kate Yoder (Grist)
Coccolithophores (phylum Haptista) are a type of #phytoplankton covered in white calcium carbonate coccolith plates. Blooms in the surface seas can be seen in satellite images because these shells. They are the primary component in #chalk deposits such as the white cliffs of Dover (the "calcite belt" in the temperate north) and as such are very important for the biological carbon pump.
#climate
Emiliania huxleyi (below) is a common species.
https://joidesresolution.org/the-magical-world-of-coccolithophores/
The Magical World of Coccolithophores
What are these beautiful algae? Where are they found and why are they important? Teachers down load the word document at the end of the article with questions. These photographs show 4 coccolitho…JOIDES Resolution
#Zooplankton have amazing abilities to sense their environment. The setae on long extended antennae have mechanoreceptors & chemosensors (aesthetascs). #Copepods can smell and track a pheromone plume of many body lengths, or detect particular prey items. Very sophisticated behavior for this ecologically important uncharismatic microfauna.
This is an excellent review article on the chemical ecology of copepods. Highly recommended read. 📖
https://academic.oup.com/plankt/article/36/4/895/2963073
The chemical ecology of copepods
An increasing number of studies show the importance of chemical interactions in the aquatic environment. Our understanding of the role of chemical cues and signHeuschele, Jan (Oxford University Press)
