Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Gelatinous Zooplankton Abundance And Benthic Boundary Layer Currents In The Abyssal Northeast Pacific: A 3-Yr Time Series Study, Kenneth Smith, Christine Huffard, Paul Mcgill, Alana Sherman, Thomas Connolly, Susan Von Thun, Linda Kuhnz

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Gelatinous zooplankton are prominent fauna in the deep ocean, especially in the water column associated with the sea floor. This interface zone, the benthic boundary layer, is critical to biogeochemical exchanges between pelagic and benthic communities. A conspicuous member of this benthic boundary layer community in the abyssal Northeast Pacific (Sta. M; 4000 m depth) is the hydrozoan medusa, Benthocodon pedunculata. A 3-year time-series study was conducted of B. pedunculata from October 2014 to November 2017 using an autonomous time-lapse camera system and acoustic current meter deployed on the sea floor. Remotely operated vehicle benthic video transects and collections were …