Respiration in marine zooplankton-the other side of the coin: CO2 production

• Published in: Limnology and Oceanography
• Main Authors: Mayzaud, P, Boutoute, M, Gasparini, Sp, Mousseau, L, Lefèvre, D.
• Other Authors: Laboratoire d'océanographie de Villefranche (LOV), Observatoire océanologique de Villefranche-sur-mer (OOVM), Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de la Mer de Villefranche (IMEV), Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2005
• Subjects: [SDU.STU.OC]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Oceanography; Meganyctiphanes norvegica; North Atlantic; Copepods
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-03494233; https://doi.org/10.4319/lo.2005.50.1.0291

We measured respiratory release rates of CO, from various taxonomic groups of zooplankton during three cruises in winter, spring, and summer in the North Atlantic Ocean. Zooplankton species collected comprised different species of thaliacea (salps), mollusc thecosomes, amphipod hyperiids, copepods, decapods, and euphausiids. Hourly, individual rates ranged from a minimum of 0.02 mul h(-1) for the smallest copepods (Oncaea sp. and Acartia) to a maximum of 90.6 mul CO, for the largest euphausiids (Meganyctiphanes norvegica), corresponding to a range of weight-corrected rates of 0.1 mul CO2 for the thecosome Cymbulia peronii and 5.6 mul CO2 for the smallest copepods. Size was the major factor controlling the recorded rates. Allometric coefficients varied between 0.6 and 0.7 for weight and 1.5 and 2.2 for length, which is in agreement with the theoretical values and the values recorded for oxygen consumption. RQ values (CO2 released/O-2, consumed) were computed for each group from simultaneous measurements of both respiratory processes. Model 11 regressions yielded mean RQs of 0.87 +/- 0.40 for copepods, 0.94 +/- 0.40 for thecosomes, and 1.35 +/- 0.08 for large crustacean and salp species. We propose that the increase in RQ value from copepod to large crustacean species is related to the development of the muscular mass and activity rather than a simple shift in respiratory metabolic substrate. Realistic RQ values, taking species differences into account, should be used to derive population and community CO2 release rates from simpler oxygen consumption measurements.