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- [ONLINE] OS33A-07: Quantifying uncertainty in the contribution of mesopelagic fishes to the biological carbon pump in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean
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Helena McMonagle, Washington Sea Grant (First Author, Presenting Author)
Joel Llopiz, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Amy E Maas, Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences - Arizona State University
Deborah Steinberg, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary
Annette Govindarajan, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Timothy E. Essington, University of Washington Seattle Campus
This study estimated how much carbon the most abundant fishes transport into the ocean’s twilight zone (200-1000 meters). Quantifying ocean carbon cycling is important for understanding and projecting climate change. But, it is challenging to quantify carbon transported by fishes due to limited knowledge of how many there are and how much energy they use.In spring 2021, researchers collected data during a three-ship mission in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean. They compared how much carbon was transported by twilight zone fishes, zooplankton and sinking particles. They also quantified uncertainty in these estimates, and identified what kind of new data would be most useful in reducing uncertainty.
Estimates of fish carbon transport varied widely—fishes may account for about 0.5% to 18% of biologically-driven carbon transport to 200 meters deep, and a little less at 500 meters. However, only a portion of that carbon, about 8% to 30%, is stored for climate-relevant time scales.
This study highlights the need for better measurements to reduce uncertainty in estimates of fish carbon transport, and the difference between carbon transport versus sequestration on longer time scales. These findings can inform carbon cycling research and decision-making related to the role of fishes in carbon transport.
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