Show simple item record

Files in this item

Thumbnail

Item metadata

dc.contributor.authorProud, Roland
dc.contributor.authorCox, Martin James
dc.contributor.authorBrierley, Andrew S.
dc.date.accessioned2017-12-23T00:31:48Z
dc.date.available2017-12-23T00:31:48Z
dc.date.issued2017-01-09
dc.identifier247263482
dc.identifier5a79f44e-139d-4f0c-a067-9c2c806b7e5d
dc.identifier85009094264
dc.identifier000391902500029
dc.identifier.citationProud , 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.2016.11.003en
dc.identifier.issn0960-9822
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0002-8647-5562/work/35710929
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0002-6438-6892/work/60427341
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10023/12382
dc.descriptionThe 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/).en
dc.description.abstractThe 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.
dc.format.extent7
dc.format.extent577011
dc.language.isoeng
dc.relation.ispartofCurrent Biologyen
dc.subjectPelagic ecologyen
dc.subjectEcological geographyen
dc.subjectEnvironmental changeen
dc.subjectTrophic efficiencyen
dc.subjectOcean warmingen
dc.subjectMarine acousticsen
dc.subjectDeep scattering layersen
dc.subjectLonghursten
dc.subjectMyctophiden
dc.subjectGC Oceanographyen
dc.subjectQH301 Biologyen
dc.subjectNDASen
dc.subjectBDCen
dc.subjectR2Cen
dc.subjectSDG 14 - Life Below Wateren
dc.subject.lccGCen
dc.subject.lccQH301en
dc.titleBiogeography of the global ocean's mesopelagic zoneen
dc.typeJournal articleen
dc.contributor.sponsorEuropean Commissionen
dc.contributor.institutionUniversity of St Andrews. School of Biologyen
dc.contributor.institutionUniversity of St Andrews. Scottish Oceans Instituteen
dc.contributor.institutionUniversity of St Andrews. Marine Alliance for Science & Technology Scotlanden
dc.contributor.institutionUniversity of St Andrews. Centre for Research into Ecological & Environmental Modellingen
dc.contributor.institutionUniversity of St Andrews. Pelagic Ecology Research Groupen
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.cub.2016.11.003
dc.description.statusPeer revieweden
dc.date.embargoedUntil2017-12-22
dc.identifier.grantnumber692173en


This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record