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Krill and salp faecal pellets contribute equally to the carbon flux at the Antarctic Peninsula

Author

Listed:
  • Nora-Charlotte Pauli

    (Carl-von-Ossietzky University of Oldenburg
    Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Clara M. Flintrop

    (Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
    MARUM and University of Bremen)

  • Christian Konrad

    (Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
    MARUM and University of Bremen)

  • Evgeny A. Pakhomov

    (University of British Columbia
    University of British Columbia
    Hakai Institute)

  • Steffen Swoboda

    (MARUM and University of Bremen)

  • Florian Koch

    (Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Xin-Liang Wang

    (Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences)

  • Ji-Chang Zhang

    (Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences)

  • Andrew S. Brierley

    (University of St Andrews)

  • Matteo Bernasconi

    (University of St Andrews)

  • Bettina Meyer

    (Carl-von-Ossietzky University of Oldenburg
    Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
    Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (HIFMB))

  • Morten H. Iversen

    (Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
    MARUM and University of Bremen)

Abstract

Krill and salps are important for carbon flux in the Southern Ocean, but the extent of their contribution and the consequences of shifts in dominance from krill to salps remain unclear. We present a direct comparison of the contribution of krill and salp faecal pellets (FP) to vertical carbon flux at the Antarctic Peninsula using a combination of sediment traps, FP production, carbon content, microbial degradation, and krill and salp abundances. Salps produce 4-fold more FP carbon than krill, but the FP from both species contribute equally to the carbon flux at 300 m, accounting for 75% of total carbon. Krill FP are exported to 72% to 300 m, while 80% of salp FP are retained in the mixed layer due to fragmentation. Thus, declining krill abundances could lead to decreased carbon flux, indicating that the Antarctic Peninsula could become a less efficient carbon sink for anthropogenic CO2 in future.

Suggested Citation

  • Nora-Charlotte Pauli & Clara M. Flintrop & Christian Konrad & Evgeny A. Pakhomov & Steffen Swoboda & Florian Koch & Xin-Liang Wang & Ji-Chang Zhang & Andrew S. Brierley & Matteo Bernasconi & Bettina M, 2021. "Krill and salp faecal pellets contribute equally to the carbon flux at the Antarctic Peninsula," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-27436-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27436-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    1. E. L. Cavan & N. Mackay & S. L. Hill & A. Atkinson & A. Belcher & A. Visser, 2024. "Antarctic krill sequester similar amounts of carbon to key coastal blue carbon habitats," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.

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