Seasonal Variations of the Vertical Flux of Fecal Pellets
and Carcasses of Mesoplanktonic Animals
in the Atlantic Sector of the Southern Ocean

V. B. Tseitlin

Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia

Received December 30, 1998; in final form, February 4, 1999

Abstract—During the year, the flux of organic carbon transported by fecal pellets and dead bodies of
mesoplanktonic animals varies in proportion to the biomass of mesoplankton B_mes. The following regression
equation describes seasonal variations of B_mes: (t) = - 0.985 + 0.33 cos(t/6 - 0.12). The value of the
total flux of pellets and dead bodies varies during the year by a factor of 4.6. The annual mean value of this flux
is 5.64, the flux of fecal pellets is 3.83, and the flux of dead bodies is 1.81 g C/m year. The flux from November
until February contributes a little more than one-half to the annual flux.

Pleiades Publishing home page | journal home page | top

If you have any problems with this server, contact webmaster.