Life strategy of Antarctic silverfish promote large carbon export in Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea
Abstract Antarctic silverfish Pleuragramma antarcticum is the most abundant pelagic fish in the High Antarctic shelf waters of the Southern Ocean, where it plays a pivotal role in the trophic web as the major link between lower and higher trophic levels. Despite the ecological importance of this spe...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2024-04-01
|
| Series: | Communications Biology |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06122-8 |
| _version_ | 1797209115928297472 |
|---|---|
| author | Clara Manno Erica Carlig Pier Paolo Falco Pasquale Castagno Giorgio Budillon |
| author_facet | Clara Manno Erica Carlig Pier Paolo Falco Pasquale Castagno Giorgio Budillon |
| author_sort | Clara Manno |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Antarctic silverfish Pleuragramma antarcticum is the most abundant pelagic fish in the High Antarctic shelf waters of the Southern Ocean, where it plays a pivotal role in the trophic web as the major link between lower and higher trophic levels. Despite the ecological importance of this species, knowledge about its role in the biogeochemical cycle is poor. We determine the seasonal contribution of Antarctic silverfish to carbon flux in terms of faeces and eggs, from samples collected in the Ross Sea. We find that eggs and faeces production generate a flux accounting for 41% of annual POC flux and that the variability of this flux is modulated by spawning strategy. This study shows the important role of this organism as a vector for carbon flux. Since Antarctic silverfish are strongly dependent on sea-ice, they might be especially sensitive to climatic changes. Our results suggest that a potential decrease in the biomass of this organism is likely to impact marine biogeochemical cycles, and this should be factored in when assessing Southern Ocean carbon budget. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T09:49:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-15c54e0aa5b24a02b57a087a5146b0c3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2399-3642 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T09:49:35Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-15c54e0aa5b24a02b57a087a5146b0c32024-04-14T11:25:28ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422024-04-01711710.1038/s42003-024-06122-8Life strategy of Antarctic silverfish promote large carbon export in Terra Nova Bay, Ross SeaClara Manno0Erica Carlig1Pier Paolo Falco2Pasquale Castagno3Giorgio Budillon4British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, NERCNational Research Council (CNR) of Italy, Institute for the study of the Anthropic impacts and the Sustainability of the marine environment (IAS)Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic UniversityDepartment of Mathematics and Computer Sciences, Physical Sciences and Earth Sciences (MIFT), University of MessinaDepartment of Science and Technology, University of Naples “Parthenope”Abstract Antarctic silverfish Pleuragramma antarcticum is the most abundant pelagic fish in the High Antarctic shelf waters of the Southern Ocean, where it plays a pivotal role in the trophic web as the major link between lower and higher trophic levels. Despite the ecological importance of this species, knowledge about its role in the biogeochemical cycle is poor. We determine the seasonal contribution of Antarctic silverfish to carbon flux in terms of faeces and eggs, from samples collected in the Ross Sea. We find that eggs and faeces production generate a flux accounting for 41% of annual POC flux and that the variability of this flux is modulated by spawning strategy. This study shows the important role of this organism as a vector for carbon flux. Since Antarctic silverfish are strongly dependent on sea-ice, they might be especially sensitive to climatic changes. Our results suggest that a potential decrease in the biomass of this organism is likely to impact marine biogeochemical cycles, and this should be factored in when assessing Southern Ocean carbon budget.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06122-8 |
| spellingShingle | Clara Manno Erica Carlig Pier Paolo Falco Pasquale Castagno Giorgio Budillon Life strategy of Antarctic silverfish promote large carbon export in Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea Communications Biology |
| title | Life strategy of Antarctic silverfish promote large carbon export in Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea |
| title_full | Life strategy of Antarctic silverfish promote large carbon export in Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea |
| title_fullStr | Life strategy of Antarctic silverfish promote large carbon export in Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea |
| title_full_unstemmed | Life strategy of Antarctic silverfish promote large carbon export in Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea |
| title_short | Life strategy of Antarctic silverfish promote large carbon export in Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea |
| title_sort | life strategy of antarctic silverfish promote large carbon export in terra nova bay ross sea |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06122-8 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT claramanno lifestrategyofantarcticsilverfishpromotelargecarbonexportinterranovabayrosssea AT ericacarlig lifestrategyofantarcticsilverfishpromotelargecarbonexportinterranovabayrosssea AT pierpaolofalco lifestrategyofantarcticsilverfishpromotelargecarbonexportinterranovabayrosssea AT pasqualecastagno lifestrategyofantarcticsilverfishpromotelargecarbonexportinterranovabayrosssea AT giorgiobudillon lifestrategyofantarcticsilverfishpromotelargecarbonexportinterranovabayrosssea |