Burd¹, Adrian B., and George A. Jackson²

¹Department of Marine Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, Tel: 706-542-1604, Fax: 706-542-5888, E-mail: adrian@plankton.marsci.uga.edu and ²Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas

Modeling the effects of vertical migration on mesopelagic food webs and particle flux

The mesopelagic region of the oceans, between 100 and 1000 m depth, is supported by material entering this region from above. Both sinking particulate organic material and vertically migrating zooplankton provide food for organisms in the mesopelagic and many zooplankton in this region can switch their food preferences between these two sources. Here we build upon a previous predator-prey model where mesopelagic zooplankton (the prey) feed on particulate material. We include a group of vertically migrating zooplankton and the ability of the mesopelagic zooplankton to feed on either the migrating zooplankton or the sinking particulate material. We use the model to examine the effects of vertical migration on the mesopelagic food web, as well as on the particle flux reaching the deep ocean.