Universität zu Köln

Baker, Philip, Minzlaff, Ulrike, Schoenle, Alexandra, Schwabe, Enrico, Hohlfeld, Manon, Jeuck, Alexandra, Brenke, Nils, Prausse, Dennis, Rothenbeck, Marcel, Brix, Saskia, Frutos, Inmaculada ORCID: 0000-0003-0428-5261, Joerger, Katharina M., Neusser, Timea P., Koppelmann, Rolf, Devey, Colin ORCID: 0000-0002-0930-7274, Brandt, Angelika and Arndt, Hartmut ORCID: 0000-0003-2811-3595 (2018). Potential contribution of surface-dwelling Sargassum algae to deep-sea ecosystems in the southern North Atlantic. Deep-Sea Res. Part II-Top. Stud. Oceanogr., 148. S. 21 - 35. OXFORD: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD. ISSN 1879-0100

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Abstract

Deep-sea ecosystems, limited by their inability to use primary production as a source of carbon, rely on other sources to maintain life. Sedimentation of organic carbon into the deep sea has been previously studied, however, the high biomass of sedimented Sargassum algae discovered during the VEMA Transit expedition in 2014/2015 to the southern North Atlantic, and its potential as a regular carbon input, has been an underestimated phenomenon. To determine the potential for this carbon flux, a literature survey of previous studies that estimated the abundance of surface water Sargassum was conducted. We compared these estimates with quantitative analyses of sedimented Sargassum appearing on photos taken with an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) directly above the abyssal sediment during the expedition. Organismal communities associated to Sargassum fluitans from surface waters were investigated and Sargassum samples collected from surface waters and the deep sea were biochemically analyzed (fatty acids, stable isotopes, C:N ratios) to determine degradation potential and the trophic significance within deep-sea communities. The estimated Sargassum biomass (fresh weight) in the deep sea (0.07-3.75 g/m(2)) was several times higher than that estimated from surface waters in the North Atlantic (0.024-0.84 g/m(2)). Biochemical analysis showed degradation of Sargassum occurring during sedimentation or in the deep sea, however, fatty acid and stable isotope analysis did not indicate direct trophic interactions between the algae and benthic organisms. Thus, it is assumed that components of the deep-sea microbial food web form an important link between the macroalgae and larger benthic organisms. Evaluation of the epifauna showed a diverse nano- micro-, meio, and macrofauna on surface Sargassum and maybe transported across the Atlantic, but we had no evidence for a vertical exchange of fauna components. The large-scale sedimentation of Sargassum forms an important trophic link between surface and benthic production and has to be further considered in the future as a regular carbon input to the deep-sea floor in the North Atlantic.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Baker, Philip UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Minzlaff, Ulrike UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Schoenle, Alexandra UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Schwabe, Enrico UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Hohlfeld, Manon UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Jeuck, Alexandra UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Brenke, Nils UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Prausse, Dennis UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Rothenbeck, Marcel UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Brix, Saskia UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Frutos, Inmaculada UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0003-0428-5261 UNSPECIFIED Joerger, Katharina M. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Neusser, Timea P. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Koppelmann, Rolf UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Devey, Colin UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0002-0930-7274 UNSPECIFIED Brandt, Angelika UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Arndt, Hartmut UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0003-2811-3595 UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-196868
DOI:	10.1016/j.dsr2.2017.10.002
Journal or Publication Title:	Deep-Sea Res. Part II-Top. Stud. Oceanogr.
Volume:	148
Page Range:	S. 21 - 35
Date:	2018
Publisher:	PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
Place of Publication:	OXFORD
ISSN:	1879-0100
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language FATTY-ACID-COMPOSITION; GULF-OF-MEXICO; PELAGIC SARGASSUM; STABLE-ISOTOPES; ORGANIC-MATTER; EARLY DIAGENESIS; OCEANIC WATERS; STANDING STOCK; DAPHNIA-MAGNA; WOOD FALLS Multiple languages Oceanography Multiple languages
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/19686