Pelagic-benthic coupling during the onset of winter in a northern Norwegian fjord. Carbon flow and fate of suspended particulate matter

Abstract

Indicates that ca 36 and 18% of material sinking out of the upper 30 m and from the entire water column, respectively, were potentially respired by the benthos. Community respiration rates for the benthos were up to almost 1 order of magnitude greater than for the mesozooplankton. The nonrespired sedimented material presumably accumulates in the deeper parts of the fjord and may serve as food source for enhanced benthic production in spring. -from Authors