Comparative role of salps and other zooplankton in the cycling and transport of selected elements and natural radionuclides in Mediterranean waters

Krishnaswami, S. ; Baskaran, M. ; Fowler, S. W. ; Heyraud, M. (1985) Comparative role of salps and other zooplankton in the cycling and transport of selected elements and natural radionuclides in Mediterranean waters Biogeochemistry, 1 (4). pp. 353-360. ISSN 0168-2563

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Official URL: http://www.springerlink.com/content/k8061h6r575l11...

Related URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02187377

Abstract

Salps, salp fecal pellets and other zooplankton species were analyzed for a suite of elements and natural radionuclides to assess their role in the biogeochemical cycling of nuclides in oceanic waters. The nuclide/Al ratios in organisms normalized to the same ratio in crustal rock indicated that Ca, Sr, Zn, Cu, U, 210Po, and 210Pb are enriched in the organisms. The concentrations of Fe, Al, Th isotopes and 210Pb in salps and fecal pellets were about an order of magnitude higher than those in salps, whereas Ca, Cu, Zn, Mn and Po were higher by factors of about 2-5. Fluxes via salp defecation were higher than those which have been measured in crustacean zooplankton species, a result primarily due to the high defecation rates characteristic of salps. High nuclide levels in salp fecal pellets coupled with high defecation rates and presumed high salp biomass in many areas underscore the importance of these indiscriminate filter feeders in packaging and transporting to depth particulate-associated nuclides in surface waters.

Item Type:Article
Source:Copyright of this article belongs to Springer-Verlag.
Keywords:Element and Radionuclide Cycling; Zooplankton; Gelatinous Plankton; Fecal Pellets; Vertical Flux
ID Code:16782
Deposited On:15 Nov 2010 13:17
Last Modified:17 May 2016 01:30

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