NSF Org: |
OCE Division Of Ocean Sciences |
Recipient: |
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Initial Amendment Date: | October 31, 1994 |
Latest Amendment Date: | October 21, 1996 |
Award Number: | 9310591 |
Award Instrument: | Continuing Grant |
Program Manager: |
Phillip R. Taylor
OCE Division Of Ocean Sciences GEO Directorate For Geosciences |
Start Date: | November 15, 1994 |
End Date: | October 31, 1998 (Estimated) |
Total Intended Award Amount: | $385,015.00 |
Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $385,015.00 |
Funds Obligated to Date: |
FY 1996 = $130,008.00 FY 1997 = $100,003.00 |
History of Investigator: |
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Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
75 LOWER COLLEGE RD RM 103 KINGSTON RI US 02881-1974 (401)874-2635 |
Sponsor Congressional District: |
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Primary Place of Performance: |
South Ferry Road Narragansett RI US 02882 |
Primary Place of Performance Congressional District: |
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Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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Parent UEI: |
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NSF Program(s): | BIOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY |
Primary Program Source: | |
Program Reference Code(s): |
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Program Element Code(s): |
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Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.050 |
ABSTRACT
9310591 Wisher This research, part of the Joint Gobal Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS) of the Arabian Sea, addresses the question of whether the widespread suboxic conditions below the euphotic zone in the Arabian Sea restrict carbon cycling by metazoans primarily to regions above and below the oxygen minimum zone and whether this results in elevated carbon concentrations (in the form of plankton biomass) at depth. This project has two foci: (1) the measurement of mesozooplankton distributions and size-fractionated biomass in vertical strata to the deep sea, with particular attention to the oxygen minimum zone and its upper and lower interfaces, and (2) examination of oxygen minimum zone effects on zooplankton trophic relationships, including the potential zooplankton-bacteria link. Vertically stratified zooplankton samples down to 3500 m will be taken during four seasons with a MOCNESS plankton net system day and night at the four intensive JGOFS stations and at intervals along transects between the stations for the determination of mesozooplankton distributions and size-fractionated biomass. Gut contents of zooplankton will be analyzed by transmission electron microscopy for determination of trophic webs. The potential bacteria-zooplankton link will be investigated further with the use of molecular probes. The upper and lower interfaces of the oxygen minimum zone, which may be locations of high zooplankton and particle abundances and intense processing of organic material, will be specially targetted for studies of distributions and food webs. Low mesozooplankton abundances within the oxygen minimum zone may contribute to enhanced fluxes of organic materials to the sea floor, because the utilization of particulate material in midwater by these detritivores would be reduced. High mesozooplankton abundances and a short food chain (bacteria to zooplankton) at the oxygen minimum zone interfaces would suggest intense processing of organic material localiz ed within a narrow depth window, possibly acting as a filter for sinking particles. This work will help elucidate how organic material may be altered during passage through the water column to the sea floor. It will contribute to understanding how the seasonal monsoom cycle of the Arabian Sea and resultant productivity peaks are coupled to carbon fluxes and deposition and may provide some analogies for predicting effects of climate change.
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