Mesopelagic Sound Scattering Layers of the High Arctic: Seasonal Variations in Biomass, Species Assemblage, and Trophic Relationships

• Published in: Frontiers in Marine Science
• Main Authors: Maxime Geoffroy, Malin Daase, Marine Cusa, Gérald Darnis, Martin Graeve, Néstor Santana Hernández, Jørgen Berge, Paul E. Renaud, Finlo Cottier, Stig Falk-Petersen
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2019
• Subjects: mesopelagic fish and zooplankton; Arctic and boreal ecosystems; seasonality; fatty acid trophic markers; Sebastes; Barents Sea; Science; Q; General. Including nature conservation; geographical distribution; QH1-199.5; Arctic; Arctic Ocean; Svalbard; Medusa; Arctic cod; Meganyctiphanes norvegica; polar night; Themisto; Themisto libellula; Zooplankton; Copepods; Thysanoessa inermis
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00364; https://doaj.org/article/239f210959724985af2c5b100f68b9d8

Mesopelagic sound scattering layers (SSL) are ubiquitous in all oceans. Pelagic organisms within the SSL play important roles as prey for higher trophic levels and in climate regulation through the biological carbon pump. Yet, the biomass and species composition of SSL in the Arctic Ocean remain poo...