Including filter-feeding gelatinous macrozooplankton in a global marine biogeochemical model: model-data comparison and impact on the ocean carbon cycle

Abstract

Filter-feeding gelatinous macrozooplankton (FFGM), namely salps, pyrosomes and doliolids, are increasingly recognized as an essential component of the marine ecosystem. Unlike crustacean zooplankton (e.g., copepods) that feed on prey that are an order of magnitude smaller, filter feeding allows FFGM to have access to a wider range of organisms, with predator-over-prey size ratios as high as 105:1. In addition, most FFGM produce carcasses and/or fecal pellets that sink 10 times faster than those of copepods. This implies a rapid and efficient export of organic matter to depth. Even if these organisms represent