Biogeography of the global ocean's mesopelagic zone
Abstract
The global ocean’s near-surface can be partitioned into distinct provinces on the basis of regional primary productivity and oceanography [1]. This ecological geography provides a valuable framework for understanding spatial variability in ecosystem function, but has relevance only part way into the epipelagic zone (the top 200 m). The mesopelagic (200-1,000 m) makes up c. 20% of the global ocean volume, plays important roles in biogeochemical cycling [2], and holds potentially huge fish resources [3–5]. It is however hidden from satellite observation, and a lack of globally-consistent data has prevented development of a global-scale understanding. Acoustic Deep Scattering Layers (DSLs) are prominent features of the mesopelagic. These vertically-narrow (10s-100s of m) but horizontally-extensive (continuous for 10s-1,000s of km) layers comprise fish and zooplankton, and are readily detectable using echosounders. We have compiled a database of DSL characteristics globally. We show here that DSL depth and acoustic backscattering intensity (a measure of biomass) can be modelled accurately using just surface primary productivity, temperature and wind-stress. Spatial variability in these environmental factors leads to a natural partition of the mesopelagic into 10 distinct classes. These classes demark a more complex biogeography than the latitudinally-banded schemes proposed before [6,7]. Knowledge of how environmental factors influence the mesopelagic enables future change to be explored: we predict that by 2100 there will be widespread homogenisation of mesopelagic communities, and that mesopelagic biomass could increase by c. 17%. The biomass increase requires increased trophic efficiency, which could arise because of ocean warming and DSL shallowing.
Citation
Proud , R , Cox , M J & Brierley , A S 2017 , ' Biogeography of the global ocean's mesopelagic zone ' , Current Biology , vol. 27 , no. 1 , pp. 113-119 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2016.11.003
Publication
Current Biology
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
0960-9822Type
Journal article
Description
The work has arisen from a PhD studentship funded by Australian Antarctic Division, University of Tasmania, and School of Biology. This study has received support from the European H2020 International Cooperation project MESOPP (Mesopelagic Southern Ocean Prey and Predators; http://www.mesopp.eu/).Collections
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